Patent ID: 8201545

Claim:
A paintball marker comprising: a housing having formed therein a cylindrical chamber with an axis, the chamber having an open end and a wall, the wall having therein a first opening and a second opening; and a valve assembly within the chamber and coaxial therewith, the valve assembly configured so that, during one period of revolution about the axis: in a first portion of the period of revolution, the valve assembly closes the second opening while permitting entry of a ball into the chamber through the first opening, and in a second portion of the period of revolution, the valve assembly closes the first opening while permitting entry of compressed gas into the chamber through the second opening, the compressed gas entering the chamber during the second portion of the period of revolution being effective to expel the ball through the open end of the chamber; wherein the valve assembly comprises a valve body having an axial slot therein for permitting entry of the compressed gas in the second portion of the period of revolution, the slot having sides extending in the axial direction and ends extending in the azimuthal direction, and the valve body has protrusions at an exterior cylindrical surface thereof for contacting an inner surface of the chamber and thereby preventing escape of the compressed gas at the exterior of the valve, the protrusions forming axially spaced circumferential seals at respective ends of the slot and longitudinal seals, each intersecting said circumferential seals, along respective sides of the slot.