Abstract:
A CO 2  powered paint ball gun is provided operative to three times expand CO 2  gas as it is extracted from a container of liquid CO 2  and ducted to a position behind a paint ball disposed in the barrel of said gun. The gun includes three adjustments by which the velocity of the discharge of a paint ball from the barrel of the gun may be adjusted and includes a bolt action which is gas operated. Furthermore, the gun components may be readily disassembled for cleaning and/or repair and replacement and the initial expansion of CO 2  gas under pressure occurs in a passage passing through the hand grip of the gun in a manner such that the chilled first expanded CO 2  gas may be warmed by the heat of the user&#39;s hand grasping the hand grip.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to a gas powered semiautomatic gun designed specifically to successively fire a plurality of paint balls and is constructed to be operable in a semiautomatic manner through gas operation. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Various different forms of gas operated guns including some of the general structural and operational features of the instant invention heretofore have been known. Examples of these different forms of gas operated guns are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,199,501, 4,531,503, 4,936,282, 5,054,464 and 5,063,905. However, these previously known devices do not include several combinations of interacting components of the gun of the instant invention which result in advantages of operation. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The semiautomatic paint ball gun of the instant invention is designed to successively three times expand the gas charge from the reservoir thereof during the process of firing the gun. In this manner, the propelling gas is twice expanded prior to being expanded in the process of projecting a paint ball from the barrel of the gun and the loss of total energy from the reservoir of the compressed gas due to the absorption of heat during three stages of expansion rather than one or two stages of expansion is maintained at a minimum to thereby allow a greater number of projectiles to be fired with a given amount of gas under pressure, as long as the gun is not rapidly fired throughout depletion of a full charge of pressurized gas from the gas reservoir thereof. 
     In addition, the gun is rendered semiautomatic by the utilization of some of the gas pressure from each firing of the gun for cocking the bolt of the gun and several different adjustments may be made to the gun in order to adjust the muzzle velocity thereof. 
     Further, the gun is constructed with an upwardly and outwardly inclined gravity feed magazine by which successive paint balls may be received within the rear of the barrel assembly of the gun preparatory to the gun being fired and the upward and outward inclination of the gravity feed magazine provides sufficient clearance for a centered over the barrel gun sight. 
     Further, the magazine is constructed such that it is removably mounted from the gun and is reversible in a front to rear manner to thereby enable the magazine to open upwardly and outwardly to either side of the gun, thus making the gun readily adaptable for right or left handed use. 
     Finally, the bolt of the gun which defines the third chamber for the expansion of propelling gas therein is back bored generally one-half of an inch and it has been found that this back boring, while utilizing somewhat more propellent gas, results in an increase in the muzzle velocity of the projectile fired from the gun. 
     The main object of this invention is to provide a CO 2  powered gun of the automatic gas operated type and which utilizes a gas delivery system for delivering gas under pressure from the gas reservoir to the interior of the bolt immediately behind the projectile in a manner such that the gas is expanded three times in succession for each firing of the gun. 
     Another important object of this invention is to provide a gas operated gun wherein at least two different structures are provided for adjusting the muzzle velocity of a projectile to be fired from the gun given a gas supply at a predetermined pressure. 
     Another very important object of this invention is to provide a trigger and seer assembly for the gun which may be quickly and totally disassembled from the frame of the gun for cleaning and/or repair operations. 
     A final object of this invention to be specifically enumerated herein is to provide a CO 2  powered paint ball gun in accordance with the preceding objects and which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be of simple construction and easy to use so as to provide a device that will be economically feasible, long lasting and relatively trouble free in operation. 
     These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the gun with the bolt and hammer in rearwardly retracted positions and the upwardly and outwardly inclined throat of the magazine and associated paint balls being illustrated in phantom lines; 
     FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view of the rear portion of the gun illustrated in FIG. 1 and with the trigger illustrated in a rearwardly pulled position and the associated sear pivoted to the release position to allow the bolt and hammer to move partially forward; 
     FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal vertical sectional view similar to FIG. 2 but illustrating the bolt and hammer in their forwardly displaced positions immediately subsequent to contact of the hammer with the cup rod and return of the cup rod to its rest position; 
     FIG. 4 is an enlarged longitudinal vertical sectional view of the valve tube through which gas under pressure passes to the bolt cavity upon opening of the cup valve; 
     FIG. 5 is a right end elevational view of the valve tube illustrated in FIG. 4; and 
     FIG. 6 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view of the rear barrel extension comprising the lower portion of the magazine illustrating the central circumferential interior land therein for maintaining a paint ball within the bore rear extension in proper position and further illustrating the opposite end counterbores in which the rear threaded end of the barrel is received when the magazine is in reversed positions. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now more specifically to FIGS. 1 and 2, the paint ball gun of the instant invention is referred to in general by the reference numeral 10 and includes a main body or frame 12 from the underside of which a trigger mechanism and trigger guard assembly referred to in general by the reference numeral 14 is removably supported, the assembly 14 removably supporting a depending hand grip 16 therefrom. The lower end of the hand grip 16 includes a rearwardly opening threaded cavity into which the neck 20 of a CO 2  cartridge 22 may be removably threaded, the closure closing the neck 20 of the cartridge 22 automatically being opened upon threaded engagement of the cartridge 22 into the chamber 18. 
     The hand grip 16 defines a first longitudinally extending expansion chamber 24 extending therethrough and opening upwardly into the inlet end 26 of a horizontal transfer passage 28 extending longitudinally through the assembly 14. The outlet end 30 of the transfer passage 28 opens into a second transfer passage 32 including aligned inlet and outlet ends formed in the assembly 14 and the body or frame 12 and opening upwardly into a second longitudinally extending expansion chamber 34 defined by a longitudinal bore 36 formed through a lower portion of the body or frame 12 and including a threaded counterbore 38 at its front end and a threaded counterbore 40 at its rear end, the counterbores 38 and 40 opening through the front and rear ends of the body or frame 12. 
     The upper portion of the body or frame 12 has an upper longitudinal bore 42 formed therethrough opening rearwardly through the rear end of the body 12 and forwardly through the forward end of the body 12, the forward end of the bore 42 including a threaded counterbore 44. 
     In addition, the upper portion of the body 12 has an upwardly opening notch 46 formed therein whose forward extremity is disposed approximately one-third rearwardly along the bore 42 from the forward end thereof. The notch 46 removably receives a gravity feed magazine 48 formed therein and the magazine is removably secured within the notch 46 and to the body 12 through the utilization of four upwardly removable threaded fasteners 50. 
     The lower portion of the magazine 48 has a smooth bore 52 formed therethrough, see FIGS. 3 and 6, and the opposite ends of the bore 52 include counterbores 54 while the longitudinal center of the bore 52 includes a circumferentially extending diametrically enlarged land 56. The upper portion of the magazine 48 defines an upwardly and outwardly inclined inlet tube 58 which opens upwardly and outwardly to one side of the body in a manner such as to not block sighting along a removable sight rib 60 supported and projecting upwardly from and extending along the rear portion of the upper side of the body 12. 
     The magazine 48 is reversibly receivable within the notch 46 such that either counterbore 54 will be disposed forwardmost and the inlet tube 58 may be inclined upwardly and outwardly to either side of the body 12, the land 56 being aligned with the longitudinal center of the inclined inlet tube 56 in a manner such that when a paint ball 62 is dropped downwardly through the upper open end of the inlet tube 58 it will automatically position itself with its lower and opposite side peripheral portions seated in the land 56. 
     The gun 10 includes a forward barrel 64 having a longitudinal bore 66 therethrough and the rear longitudinal central portion of the barrel 64 includes an externally threaded first diametrically reduced portion 68 removably threaded in the counterbore 44, the rear terminal end 72 of the barrel 64 being further reduced and removably received in a counterbore of slightly smaller diameter than the counterbore 44 and larger in diameter than the bore 42, the bore 66 being of the same diameter of the bore 42 and the bore 52. The rear terminal end 72 of the barrel 64 is removably seated within whichever counterbore 54 of the magazine 48 is disposed forwardmost. Therefore, in order to remove the magazine 48 for the purpose of cleaning the same or reversing it in position, the threaded diametrically reduced portion 68 of the barrel 64 must be partially threaded out of the counterbore 44 in order to forwardly retract the rear terminal end 72 of the barrel 64 forwardly of the forwardmost counterbore 54. 
     As may be readily understood, the bore 52 of the magazine 48 actually comprises a rearward extension of the bore 66 and, accordingly, the magazine 48 comprises a part of the overall barrel assembly including barrel 64. 
     The rear end of the bore 42 is closed by a removable O-ring equipped plug 74 and a generally cylindrical bolt 76 is slidable in the bore 42 forward of the plug 74, the rear portion of the bolt 76 being coupled to the rear portion of a generally cylindrical hammer 78 slidable in the bore 34 through the utilization of a vertical connecting pin 80 slidable through an elongated slot 82 formed in the body or frame 12 and communicating the bores 42 and 34 and with the forward end of the hammer 78 being equipped with an O-ring 84, the pin 80 being threadedly mounted from the bolt 76, snugly received in a blind bore 77 formed in the bolt 76 and upwardly removable through a bore 79 formed in the rear upper portion of the body 12 once the sight rib 60 has been removed. Also, the underside of the rear end of the hammer 78 includes a notch 86 therein in which the rear end 88 of a pivoted sear or cam 90 is receivable, the sear 90 being pivoted from a slide 91 as at 92 and under the biasing action of an expansion spring 94 and the slide 91 being slightly shiftable longitudinally of the assembly 14. 
     The hand grip 16 is removably secured to the trigger guard 96 for the gun 10 as at 98 and the trigger 100 is pivoted from the assembly 14 by a pin and slot connection as at 102 and the trigger is under the biasing action of a compression spring 104. 
     With attention now invited more specifically to FIG. 2, a rear cap 106 is threaded in the counterbore 40 and has a threaded bore 108 formed in its rear end, the forward end of the threaded bore 108 terminating in a smooth counterbore 110 opening through the front side of the cap. An externally threaded velocity adjuster sleeve 112 is partially threaded into the threaded bore 108 and includes a smooth bore 114 therethrough which slidably receives the rear end of a hammer rod 116 therethrough equipped with a cocking knob 118 removably threadedly engaged on the rear end thereof. The forward end of the velocity adjuster sleeve 112 includes a diametrically enlarged head 120 thereon slidable in the counterbore 110 and a compression spring 122 is disposed about the hammer rod 116 forward of the head 20 and is slidably received through a spacer sleeve 124 disposed in the rear portion of the bore 34 forward of the rear cap 106, the forward end of the hammer rod 116 being removably threaded in a threaded blind bore 126 formed in the rear end of the hammer 78. The adjuster sleeve 112 is locked in adjusted positions within the rear cap by a set screw 126 which may have a seal (not shown) secured thereover to prevent unauthorized adjustment of the adjuster sleeve 112 in the field, the entire assembly 78, 112,116, 118, 120, 122, 124 and 126 being removable as a unit from the rear of the bore 36 upon removal of connecting pin 80 and rear cap 106. 
     A cylindrical chamber sizer 128 is removably threaded on the forward end of an adjusting rod 130 disposed in the forward end of the bore 36 comprising the second expansion chamber 34 and is equipped with an O-ring 131, the chamber sizer 128 being threaded engaged in the threaded counterbore 38 and the forward end of the counterbore 38 being closed by an end plug 132. The rear end of the adjusting rod 130 is slightly spaced forward of a seal cup 138 disposed within the chamber 34 and threaded on the forward end of a cup rod 140. A compression spring 142 is disposed about the rear end of the adjusting rod 30 forward of a pair of adjusting nuts 144 threaded on the adjusting rod 130. The front end of the compression spring 142 bears against the rear end of the rear adjusting nut 144 and the rear of the spring 142 bears against the front side of the seal locator 134 which is generally circular in plan shape but includes four generally semicircular cutouts spaced about its periphery. 
     A generally cylindrical valve 146 is fixed in position within the bore 36 through the utilization of a pair of upper and lower set screws 148 and 150. From FIGS. 4 and 5 of the drawings it may be seen that the valve 146 includes a pair of O-ring seal receiving grooves 154 and a pair of diametrically opposite recess portions 156 for receiving the set or lock screws 148 and 150. In addition, the cylindrical valve 146 includes a central bore 158 formed therethrough through which the cup rod 140 is slidably received, the bore 158 including a forward diametrically enlarged counterbore 160 whose forward end is closed by the seal cup 138. In addition, the rear end of the counterbore 160 includes an upwardly directed exhaust port 162 communicated therewith which in turn opens into a transfer passage 164 opening upwardly into the bore 42, the intersection of the counterbore 160 and exhaust port 162 being radiused as at 165 in order to offer as little resistance as possible to the upward movement of CO 2  gas into exhaust port 162. Further, the rear end of the valve 146 includes eight circumferentially spaced vent ports 166 formed therein opening rearwardly outwardly of the valve 146 and forwardly into the counterbore 160. 
     The forward end of the bolt 76 includes a blind bore 170 formed therein opening through the forward end of the bolt 76 through a diametrically enlarged counterbore 172 and rear portion of the blind bore 170 includes a downwardly directed intake port 174 which is registered with the transfer port 164 when the bolt 76 is in its forwardmost position, the forward extremity of the bolt 76 being operative to engage a paint ball 62 seated in the land 56 and to displace that paint ball 62 forwardly into the rear end of the barrel 64 and the closed end of the blind bore 170 extending between 0.450 and 0.700 inch rearward of the intake port 174. 
     The assembly 14 is held within an appropriate recess provided therefore within the lower portion of the body or frame 12 through the utilization of fasteners 180 and the assembly 14 includes upper and lower components 182 and 184 removably secured together through the utilization of fasteners 186 and fastener 187 secure the hand grip 16 to the assembly 14. 
     In operation, the cartridge 22 is threaded into position upon the hand grip 16, one or more paint balls or projectiles 62 are downwardly displaced into the intake tube 58 of the magazine 48 and the lowermost projectile or paint ball 62 seats in the land 56, this all assuming that the knob 118 has been pulled rearwardly to the position thereof illustrated in FIG. 1 with the rear end 88 of the sear or cam 90 projecting upwardly into the rear portion of the notch 86, thus retaining the cylindrical hammer 78 in its rearmost position illustrated in FIG. 1 and with the bolt 76 similarly rearwardly displaced to its rearmost position by its connection to the hammer 78 via the connecting pin 80. 
     The pretensioning of the spring 142 may be accomplished by adjusting the lock nuts 144 and, thereafter, adjustment of the size of the expansion chamber 34 may be carried out by adjusting the chamber sizer 128 after removing the end plug 132. Further, the pretensioning of the spring 122 may be accomplished by adjustment of the adjuster sleeve 112. After the sleeve 112 has been adjusted, it is locked in adjusted position relative to the rear cap 106 through the utilization of the set screw 126. 
     In operation, once the nipple 20 of the cartridge 22 has been threaded into the cavity 18 and the seal on the cartridge 22 has been punctured, CO 2  gas is discharged from the cartridge 22 and is first expanded into the chamber 24. Then, as the trigger 100 is pulled rearwardly, the slide 91 is shifted slightly forwardly while at the same time the sear or cam 90 is angularly displaced in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 1 in order to downwardly retract the rear end 88 of the cam 90 from the notch 86, these positions of the trigger 100 and sear or cam 40 being illustrated in FIG. 2. At this point, the spring 122 drives the hammer rod 108 and the hammer 78 forwardly in the bore 34 and the forward end of the hammer 78 abuts against the rear end of the cup rod 140 to thereby forwardly displace the seal cup 138 from the forward end of the valve 146, the once expanded CO 2  gas within the chamber 34 and the transfer passage 28 having been expanded for the second time in the second expansion chamber 34 and passing into the counterbore 168 behind the forwardly displaced seal cup 138. Thereafter, the CO 2  under pressure passes through the exhaust port 162, into the inlet port 174 and thereafter into the blind bore 170 in which the CO 2  gas is expanded for the third time. The three times expanded CO 2  gas is then discharge forwardly through the counterbore 172 at the forward end of the bolt 76 and propels the projectile or paint ball 62 seated in the rear end of the barrel 64 forwardly through the latter. 
     Of course, as the hammer 78 was forwardly displaced under the biasing action of the spring 122, the bolt 76 was also forwardly displaced from the rearmost position thereof illustrated in FIG. 1 to the forwardmost position thereof illustrated in FIG. 3 to forwardly displace the paint ball or projectile 62 seated in the land 56 into the rear end of the barrel 64. 
     As the first charge of CO 2  passes through the valve 146 on its way to the blind bore 170 and counterbore 172, a portion of the CO 2  gas under pressure passing rearwardly through the valve 146 is discharged rearwardly therefrom through the vent ports or passages 166 with sufficient pressure buildup between the rear end of the valve 146 and the front end of the hammer 78 to overcome the biasing action of the spring 122 in order to cause the hammer 78 and the bolt 76 to again be rearwardly displaced to the positions thereof illustrated in FIG. 1, the bores each being threaded and selectively removably closable, if desired, by the threading of a headed screw (not shown) in each bore 166 to be closed. The seer or cam 12, under the biasing action of the spring 94, then being operative to swing upwardly into the notch 86 in order to retain both the hammer 78 and the bolt 76 in their rearmost positions illustrated in FIG. 1. As the bolt 76 is retracted, the next projectile or paint ball 62 passing downwardly through the inlet tube 58 is positioned in the land 56 and the entire firing process again may be carried out upon immediate rearward displacement of the trigger 100. This action may be rapidly repeated as long as paint balls or projectiles 62 are supplied to the upwardly and outwardly opening inlet tube 58 and until the supply of liquid CO 2  within the cartridge 22 is exhausted. 
     By increasing the tension on the spring 122, the hammer 78 drives the cup rod 40 a greater distance forward from the valve 146 and thus the seal cup 138 remains open for a slightly longer period of time. This increases the amount of CO 2  gas under pressure which passes through the valve and is available not only to increase the velocity of the projectile or paint ball 62 projected forwardly through the barrel, but also the amount of CO 2  gas under pressure which will pass rearwardly through the vent ports 166 in order to drive the hammer 78 and the bolt 76 back to their rearmost positions illustrated in FIG. 1. Also, adjustment of the nuts 144 may be carried out to adjust the tension of the spring 142 which opposes the action of the forwardly moving hammer 78 on the cup rod 140. Still further, adjustment of the chamber sizer 128 is carried out to adjust the volume of the second expansion chamber 134 and thus the amount of CO 2  under pressure therein available to pass rearwardly and upwardly from the valve 146. Thus, there are at least three adjustments which may be carried out that effect the muzzle velocity of a projectile or paint ball 62 being projected forwardly through the bore 66. 
     The process of three times expanding the CO 2  gas in the first expansion chamber 24, the second expansion chamber 34 and the third expansion chamber defined by the blind bore 170 and the counterbore 172 is very important inasmuch as the absorption of heat by the expansion of gas in each of these chambers, when the gun 10 is not fired in rapid succession, allows ambient heat to rewarm the chilled CO 2  in each of the expansion chambers and to thereby obtain a greater propulsive force from each quantity of CO 2  discharged from the cartridge 22 into the gun 10. Furthermore, the utilization of two expansion chambers 24 and 34 before the CO 2  gas passes through the valve 146 ensures that there will be substantially no liquid CO 2  within the second expansion chamber 34 to cause any problems with movement of the various internal components of the gun 10. 
     Further, by placing the first expansion chamber 24 within the hand grip 16 and constructing the hand grip 16 of reasonably good heat transfer material, all but rapid firing of the gun 10 will result in the first expanded CO 2  gas within the chamber 24 being more quickly warmed by the heat of the hand in which the hand grip 16 is supported. 
     Also, it is to be noted that the rear portion of blind bore 170 extends between 0.450 and 0.700 inch rearward of the intake port 174. This &#34;backboring&#34; and the quantity of CO 2  gas received therein increases the muzzle velocity of the paint ball 62. 
     The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes readily will occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.