Patent ID: 8671928

Claim:
A pneumatic assembly for a projectile launching system comprising: a body defining a continuous bore from a substantially open forward end of the body to a substantially closed rearward end of the body; a nozzle positioned within the bore adjacent the forward end of the body, the nozzle moveable between a rearward position wherein the nozzle facilitates passage of a projectile through a projectile port and a forward position wherein the nozzle blocks the projectile port to prevent passage of a projectile therethrough, the nozzle biased to the forward position and configured for fluid actuation to the rearward position by activation of a first fluid control valve; a valve seat positioned within the bore rearward of the nozzle, the valve seat sealingly engaging an internal surface of the bore such that an accumulation chamber is defined between the valve seat and the rearward end of the body, the accumulation chamber including an inlet port; a firing valve member positioned within the bore and moveable between a forward position wherein the firing valve member fluidly seals a passage through the valve seat and a rearward position wherein the passage is fluidly opened such that fluid in the accumulation chamber is free to flow through the passage and out of the nozzle, the firing valve member biased to the forward position and configured for fluid actuation to the rearward position by activation of a second fluid control valve which is independent of the first fluid control valve and which selectively provides fluid to a firing valve input port positioned forward of the accumulation chamber, the firing valve member independent of the inlet port such that the firing valve member does not directly control flow between the inlet port and the accumulation chamber; and wherein flow of fluid in the accumulation chamber through the passage and out of the nozzle is independent of the position of the nozzle.