Patent ID: 7237545

Claim:
A compressed gas-powered projectile accelerator, comprising: a housing having a forward end and a rear end, the housing including: a breech having a forward end and a rear end, a gas distribution passage in communication with the breech, the gas distribution passage having a first end and a second end, a valve passage in communication with the gas distribution passage, the valve passage having a first end and a second end, the valve passage, and a bolt rest-point slot formed in the housing, the bolt rest-point slot in communication with the gas distribution passage, breech, and valve passage; a bolt located within the breech and having a forward portion and a rear portion, the bolt adapted to move along a length of the breech between a forward position and a rearward position, the bolt biased toward the forward end of the housing by a bolt spring, the bolt having at least one aperture therethrough, the aperture adapted to allow compressed gas to pass between the rear end of the breech and the forward end of the breech when the bolt reaches a preselected position within the breech; a valve slider located within the valve passage having a first end and a second end, the valve slider adapted to move along a length of the valve passage from a first position to a second position, the valve slider adapted to selectively control the flow of compressed gas to the gas distribution passage, breech, and slot; wherein at or near its rearward position, the bolt opens a flow path for compressed air to channel to the back of the bolt for urging the bolt toward the forward position, wherein at or near its forward position, the bolt opens an air passage for compressed air to flow through the aperture in the bolt.