POWER RESTRICTING DEVICE FOR IMITATION GUN

Abstract

 Minimal improvements are provided so that kinetic energy of a shot bullet does not exceed a stipulated value even in a case of using a bullet whose mass is higher than that of a plastic BB bullet.
In a simulated gun which shoots a bullet 15 by loading the bullet 15 on an airflow jet route and using a compressed airflow, as means for controlling power for shooting the bullet 15 in accordance with mass of the bullet 15, an airflow leakage portion 20 through which the compressed airflow leaks is formed in the jet route or a portion leading to the jet route. The airflow leakage portion has the bullet that instantaneously halts the compressed air, a flow path that allows the compressed airflow to leak in response to a pressure increase in the compressed airflow which results from the halt of the compressed airflow, and an opening/closing mechanism of the flow path.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for controlling shooting power in a simulated gun which shoots a bullet by loading the bullet on an airflow jet route and using a compressed airflow.

Background Art

[0002] With regard to a simulated gun such as an air gun or a gas gun, Article 1-2 of Firearms and Swords Possession Control Law stipulates kinetic energy of a shot bullet. According to this law, in a case of using a bullet of 6 mm in diameter, it is understood that the simulated gun has to be handled as a semi-air gun if energy at a specified measurement point exceeds 3.5 J/cm². Therefore, the gas gun exceeding the above-described stipulated value has not been manufactured. However, in a case where several conditions overlap each other, it is considered that the gas gun may temporarily exceed the stipulated value. For example, there is a possibility that using the gas gun under high temperature in summer may cause the above-described problem.

[0003] Apart from a temperature condition, when a manufacturer's unintended bullet is used, the bullet may be a problem as well. In this type of the simulated gun, the bullet of 6 mm in diameter is used as described above, and is called a BB bullet. As the BB bullet, each manufacturer sells a plastic molded product. However, an example is reported in which a metal ball of 6 mm in diameter such as a ball bearing is improperly used. Therefore, if a condition of using a heavy bullet other than a generally used plastic BB bullet, a condition of using the simulated gun under high temperature in summer, and a condition of using a highly powerful power source (CO₂) other than generally used gas of 134a are combined with each other, a phenomenon may occur in which bullet speed unpredictably increases.

[0004] If a metal ball bearing whose mass is higher than that of the plastic BB bullet is used as the bullet in this way, each manufacturer cannot overlook the situation. Unless some countermeasures are taken, there is a possibility that illegal acts may be unexpectedly overlooked. As for the simulated gun industry, this possibility is undesirable. However, since the situation has not been expected, a technique for distinguishing or rejecting a metal bullet is not known yet.

[0005] If the related art is investigated, JP-A-2009-14327 discloses an invention relating to an air gun. The disclosed invention has the following configuration. An automatic valve is disposed inside a gas release flow path. If pressure and a flow rate of compressed gas released from a gas accumulator to an inner barrel reach a fixed value or greater, the automatic valve automatically narrows and closes a flow path installed from the inside of the gas release flow path to the inner barrel, thereby regulating the pressure and the flow rate of the compressed gas released from the gas accumulator to the inner barrel. However, a member such as the automatic valve has to be additionally provided, thereby resulting in a complicated configuration. In addition, the automatic valve has to close a gas release port before the bullet is shot. In this regard, a question on whether the invention can be put to practical use still remains.

Citation List

Patent Literature

[0006] [PTL 1] JP-A-2009-14327

Summary of Invention

Technical Problem

[0007] The present invention is made in view of the above-described viewpoints, and an object thereof is to provide minimal improvements so that kinetic energy of a shot bullet does not exceed a stipulated value even in a case of using a bullet whose mass is higher than that of a plastic BB bullet. In addition, another object of the present invention is to provide the power control device in the simulated gun which is compatible without practically decreasing the kinetic energy of the BB bullet in a case where the plastic BB bullet is used while being mixed with the bullet whose mass is higher than that of the plastic BB bullet.

Solution to Problem

[0008] In order to solve the problem, the present invention provides a simulated gun which shoots a bullet by loading the bullet on an airflow jet route and using a compressed airflow. As means for controlling power for shooting the bullet in accordance with mass of the bullet, an airflow leakage portion through which the compressed airflow leaks is formed in the jet route or a portion leading to the jet route. The airflow leakage portion has a bullet that instantaneously halts the compressed air, a flow path that allows the compressed airflow to leak in response to a pressure increase in the compressed airflow which results from the halt of the compressed airflow, and an opening/closing mechanism of the flow path. The simulated gun to which the present invention is applicable uses the compressed airflow, and is mainly represented by an air gun using air and a so-called gas gun using gas other than the air. Therefore, in the present invention, a flow of compressed air and a flow of the gas other than the compressed air are collectively referred to as the compressed airflow.

[0009] In a configuration of the simulated gun, a device according to the present invention has the airflow leakage portion through which the compressed airflow leaks. The compressed airflow is jetted using the same pressurizing force applied to both a BB bullet and a metal bullet. However, in accordance with the Newton's equation of motion, acceleration acting on the bullet is in proportion to an action force, and is in inverse proportion to mass of the bullet.

[0010] That is, a lighter bullet (having low mass) starts to move using weaker kinetic energy. In contrast, a heavier bullet (having high mass) cannot start to move without using stronger kinetic energy. In other words, a lighter BB bullet is shot by shortening an airflow leakage time. In contrast, the airflow leakage time is lengthened before a heavier metal bullet is shot. On the other hand, the amount of the compressed airflow used in shooting a single bullet is constant, and power is controlled as much as a leakage.

[0011] In the device according to the present invention, the airflow leakage portion has a bullet that instantaneously halts the compressed air, a flow path that allows the compressed airflow to leak in response to the pressure increase in the compressed airflow which results from the halt of the compressed airflow, and an opening/closing mechanism of the flow path. Accordingly, compared to a method which does not allow an airflow leakage, a slight time difference occurs before shooting the bullet. However, since the compressed airflow is instantaneously halted, the time difference is very short.

[0012] A preferable aspect is that the airflow leakage portion includes a flow path located at an upstream position from a position on the jet route where the bullet is loaded, and an opening/closing mechanism that closes the flow path in an openable/closeable manner so as to open the flow path in response to the pressure increase in the compressed airflow. For example, as the opening/closing mechanism, it is possible to employ a valve device formed of a soft elastic material, which closes the flow path in the openable/closeable manner. The valve device can employ a mechanical opening/closing mechanism.

[0013] In addition, a preferable aspect of the present invention is a configuration in which the airflow leakage portion includes a flow path located at a downstream position from a position on the jet route where the bullet is loaded, and an opening/closing mechanism configured to include the bullet that starts to move in response to the pressure increase in the compressed airflow so as to open the flow path. In a case of this aspect, the compressed airflow leaks after the bullet passes through the flow path. Therefore, a degree of power control can be adjusted by changing a distance to the flow path.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

[0014] The present invention is configured as described above so as to have an operation effect. The bullet is used in order to instantaneously halt the compressed airflow. In this manner, minimal improvements are provided so as to realize power control. Even in a case of using the metal bullet whose mass is higher than that of the plastic BB bullet, an advantageous effect is obtained in that power can be controlled so that kinetic energy of the shot bullet does not exceed a stipulated value. In addition, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide the power control device in the simulated gun which is compatible without practically decreasing the kinetic energy generated by the BB bullet in a case where the plastic BB bullet is used while being mixed with the metal bullet whose mass is higher than that of the plastic BB bullet.

Description of Embodiments

[0015] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the illustrated embodiment. Fig. 1 illustrates a simulated gun 10 to which a power control device according to the present invention is applied. The simulated gun 10 includes an air gun using compressed air and a gas gun using gas other than the air. Examples illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3 represent a case of the gas gun.

[0016] The gas gun uses compressed gas as a compressed airflow. Although a schematic configuration thereof will be described, a specific configuration may be the same as a known configuration. A gas source 11 is filled with the compressed gas. The compressed gas is released to a jet route 14 from a release valve 13 which controls gas release in response to an operation of a trigger 12, and is jetted to a bullet 15 loaded on a bullet cartridge in the rear of a barrel 16. The jet route 14 through which the released compressed gas flows is provided with a slide cylinder 17. A configuration is adopted in which the bullet 15 supplied from a magazine 19 is loaded on the bullet cartridge by sliding the slide cylinder 17 in a longitudinal direction.

[0017] Although a valve device 18 does not directly relate to the power control device according to the present invention, the valve device 18 disposed inside the slide cylinder 17 will be described. The valve device 18 temporarily closes the compressed airflow flowing out to the barrel side after the bullet is shot, and stores the compressed airflow inside the cylinder. The valve device 18 causes a piston 33 located in the rear and a slide formed integrally with the piston 33 to retreat, thereby causing simulated blowback. The valve device 18 adopts a configuration in which a gas flow is biased in an upstream direction by a coil spring of biasing means 18a disposed inside the valve device 18 so that an area of a side surface opening 18b is changed by the slide.

[0018] In the power control device according to the present invention, an airflow leakage portion 20 is configured to have the bullet 15 that instantaneously halts the compressed airflow, a flow path 19 that allows the compressed airflow to leak in response to a pressure increase in the compressed airflow which results from the halt of the compressed airflow, and an opening/closing mechanism 21 of the flow path 19. The position on the jet route on which the bullet 15 is loaded indicates the bullet cartridge in the rear of the barrel 16. An embodiment of the power control device applied to this gas gun will be described with reference to Figs. 2 and 3. An arrow in each drawing schematically indicates a flowing direction of the compressed airflow in each example.

[0019] Fig. 2 illustrates Example 1 of a gas gun power control device. The airflow leakage portion 20 includes the flow path 19 located at an upstream position from a position on the jet route where the bullet 15 is loaded, and the opening/closing mechanism 21 that closes the flow path 19 in an openable/closeable manner so as to open the flow path 19 in response to the pressure increase in the compressed airflow. In each example of the embodiment, a hop-up device 23 is disposed in the bullet cartridge.

[0020] The opening/closing mechanism 21 includes a valve device formed of a soft elastic material, which closes the flow path 19 in the openable/closeable manner. The valve device is a portion of the above-described hop-up device 23. A rear end portion of the barrel 16 and a nozzle 17a of a front end portion of the slide cylinder 17 are hermetically covered with a cylindrical body 22 formed of a soft elastic material configuring the hop-up device 23. The rear end corresponding to the flow path 19 and an upper portion of the cylindrical body 22 are utilized as the valve device which is deformed by the compressed airflow.

[0021] Now, if the compressed gas is released from the gas source 11, the compressed airflow reaches the bullet 15 from the jet route 14. However, the opening/closing mechanism 21 is closed as illustrated by a solid line in Fig. 2. Accordingly, the compressed airflow is instantaneously halted in accordance with the mass of the bullet 15 and a retaining force of the bullet 15. As a result of the halt, pressure of the compressed airflow instantaneously increases. In response to the pressure increase, the opening/closing mechanism 21 serving as a portion of the cylindrical body 22 which closes the flow path 19 is elastically deformed so as to push and open the flow path 19. In this manner, the compressed airflow is caused to leak (refer to a chain line in Fig. 2).

[0022] The compressed airflow acts on the bullet 15 halting the compressed airflow. A required time before the flow path 19 is pushed and opened is consequently changed by the mass of the bullet 15 and the elasticity coefficient of the opening/closing mechanism 21. Whereas the latter can be considered as constant, the former can be changed depending on the bullet. A lighter BB bullet is shot by shortening an airflow leakage time. In contrast, the airflow leakage time is lengthened before a heavier metal bullet is shot. The amount of the compressed airflow used in shooting a single bullet is constant, and thus, power is controlled as much as a leakage.

[0023] Fig. 3 illustrates Example 2 of the gas gun power control device. The airflow leakage portion 20 includes a flow path 24 located at a downstream position from a position on the jet route where the bullet 15 is loaded, and an opening/closing mechanism 25 configured to include the bullet 15 that starts to move in response to a pressure increase in the compressed airflow so as to open the flow path 24. The bullet 15 itself is configured to open and close the flow path 24. Acceleration acting on the bullet 15 varies between a time point at which the compressed airflow does not leak from the flow path 24 and a time point at which the compressed airflow leaks from the flow path 24.

[0024] That is, if the compressed gas is released from the gas source 11, the compressed airflow reaches the bullet 15 from the jet route 14. The bullet 15 of the opening/closing mechanism 25 is located in the bullet cartridge as illustrated by a solid line in Fig. 3. Accordingly, the compressed airflow is instantaneously halted in accordance with the mass of the bullet 15 and a retaining force of the bullet 15. As a result of the halt, pressure of the compressed airflow instantaneously increases. In response to the pressure increase, the bullet 15 moves. If the bullet 15 passes through the position of the flow path 24 (refer to a two-dot chain line in Fig. 3), the flow path 24 blocked by the bullet 15 serving as the opening/closing mechanism 25 is opened. In this manner, the compressed airflow is caused to leak.

[0025]  The compressed airflow acts on the bullet 15 halting the compressed airflow. A required time before the flow path 24 is opened is changed by the mass of the bullet 15. Therefore, similarly to Example 1, a lighter BB bullet is shot by shortening an airflow leakage time. In contrast, the airflow leakage time is lengthened before a heavier metal bullet is shot. The amount of the compressed airflow used in shooting a single bullet is constant, and thus, power is controlled as much as a leakage.

[0026] Furthermore, an example applied to an air gun using compressed air as the power control device according to the present invention will be described. Fig. 4 illustrates a basic configuration of the air gun. Instead of the gas source of the gas gun, the air gun is provided with a piston cylinder device 30 for compressing the air. The piston cylinder device 30 includes a piston 26 and a cylinder 27, and converts the compressed air into the compressed airflow by the operation of the piston 26. A cocking mode of the piston 26 can be selected manually or electrically.

[0027] Even in a case where the power control device according to the present invention is applied to the above-described air gun, the same reference numerals will be given to the barrel 16 and the hop-up device 23 which are provided in common, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. Hereinafter, an embodiment of the power control device applied to the air gun will be further described with reference to Figs. 5 and 6.

[0028] Fig. 5 illustrates Example 1 of the air gun power control device. The airflow leakage portion 20 includes a flow path 28 located at an upstream position from a position on the jet route where the bullet 15 is loaded, and an opening/closing mechanism 29 that closes the flow path 28 in an openable/closeable manner so as to open the flow path 28 in response to a pressure increase in the compressed airflow. Example 1 of the air gun corresponds to Example 1 of the gas gun.

[0029] Therefore, in Example 1 of the air gun power control device illustrated in Fig. 5, substantially the same operation effect as that in a case of the gas gun power control device is achieved. The air inside the cylinder is compressed by the forward movement of the piston 26, and the compressed airflow is jetted toward the bullet 15. However, the compressed airflow is instantaneously halted by the mass of the bullet 15 and the retaining force of the bullet 15. As a result of the halt, pressure of the compressed airflow instantaneously increases. In response to the pressure increase, the opening/closing mechanism 29 serving as a portion of the cylindrical body 22 which closes the flow path 28 is elastically deformed so as to push and open the flow path 28. In this manner, the compressed airflow is caused to leak (refer to a chain line in Fig. 5).

[0030] Fig. 6 illustrates Example 2 of the air gun power control device. The airflow leakage portion 20 includes a flow path 31 located at a downstream position from a position on the jet route where the bullet 15 is loaded, and an opening/closing mechanism 32 configured to include the bullet 15 that starts to move in response to a pressure increase in the compressed airflow so as to open the flow path 31. The bullet 15 itself is configured to open and close the flow path 31. Acceleration acting on the bullet 15 varies between a time point at which the compressed airflow does not leak from the flow path 31 and a time point at which the movement of the bullet 15 (two-dot chain line in Fig. 6) causes the compressed airflow to leak out from the flow path 31.

[0031] Therefore, Example 2 of the air gun corresponds to Example 2 of the gas gun illustrated in Fig. 3. The pressure of the compressed airflow instantaneously increases. In response to the pressure increase, the bullet 15 moves. If the bullet 15 passes through the position of the flow path 31, the flow path 31 blocked by the bullet 15 serving as the opening/closing mechanism 32 is opened. In this manner, the compressed airflow is caused to leak.

[0032] According to the present invention configured in this way, even in a case of using the metal bullet whose mass is higher than that of the plastic BB bullet, power can be controlled so that the kinetic energy of the shot bullet does not exceed the stipulated value. There is no danger of causing a possibility that unexpected power may be harmful to safety. Moreover, even in a case where the plastic BB bullet is used while being mixed with the metal bullet whose mass is higher than that of the plastic BB bullet, the power control device is compatibly used without practically decreasing the power of the BB bullet. Accordingly, the simulated gun according to the present invention can be treated as a simulated gun having substantially the same power as the power in the related art. Therefore, there is no possibility that users may be dissatisfied with the simulated gun according to the present invention.

Brief Description of Drawings

[0033] 

Fig. 1 is a sectional explanatory view illustrating an internal structure of a gas gun as an example of a power control device in a simulated gun according to the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional explanatory view illustrating Example 1 in which the device is applied to the gas gun.

Fig. 3 is a sectional explanatory view illustrating Example 2 of the gas gun.

Fig. 4 is a sectional explanatory view illustrating a main part of an air gun structure as another example of the power control device in the simulated gun according to the present invention.

Fig. 5 is a sectional explanatory view illustrating Example 1 of the air gun.

Fig. 6 is a sectional explanatory view illustrating Example 2 of the air gun.

Reference Signs List

[0034] 

10

SIMULATED GUN

11

GAS SOURCE

12

TRIGGER

13

RELEASE VALVE

14

JET ROUTE

15

BULLET

16

BARREL

17

SLIDE CYLINDER

18

REGULATOR VALVE

19, 24, 28, 31

FLOW PATH

20

AIRFLOW LEAKAGE PORTION

21, 25, 29, 32

OPENING/CLOSING MECHANISM

22

CYLINDRICAL BODY

23

HOP-UP DEVICE

26

AIR GUN PISTON

27

AIR GUN CYLINDER

30

PISTON CYLINDER DEVICE

33

GAS GUN PISTON

Claims

1. A power control device in a simulated gun which shoots a bullet by loading the bullet on an airflow jet route and using a compressed airflow,
wherein as means for controlling power for shooting the bullet in accordance with mass of the bullet, an airflow leakage portion through which a compressed airflow leaks is formed in the jet route or a portion leading to the jet route, and
wherein the airflow leakage portion has a bullet that instantaneously halts the compressed air, a flow path that allows the compressed airflow to leak in response to a pressure increase in the compressed airflow which results from the halt of the compressed airflow, and an opening/closing mechanism of the flow path.

2. The power control device in a simulated gun according to Claim 1,
wherein the airflow leakage portion includes a flow path located at an upstream position from a position on the jet route where the bullet is loaded, and an opening/closing mechanism that closes the flow path in an openable/closeable manner so as to open the flow path in response to the pressure increase in the compressed airflow.

3. The power control device in a simulated gun according to Claim 1,
wherein the airflow leakage portion includes a flow path located at a downstream position from a position on the jet route where the bullet is loaded, and an opening/closing mechanism configured to include the bullet that starts to move in response to the pressure increase in the compressed airflow so as to open the flow path.

Drawing