BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention:
[0001] The present invention relates to a pneumatic firing device, particularly to one that
fires pellets by airflows produced from the operation of a pressure release channel
and that is especially suitable for application to Ball Bearing guns, also known as
BB guns.
2. Description of the Related Art:
[0002] Nowadays people like to play war games like paintball and survival games with air
gun including BB guns that are highly intense for stress relief, especially those
living in cities.
[0003] Both BB guns and paintball guns fire the pellets by pressured air, mechanically or
electronically. A mechanical firing has a trigger controlling the air passage within
the device to fire, each pulled for one shot, but a user of mechanical guns cannot
pull the trigger fast enough for rapid fires. An electronic firing has a trigger controlling
the operation of a solenoid valve in the device to fire, and it is able to conduct
rapid fire.
[0004] Such design of air guns has pressured air as the driving force for firing with adjustments
by the structure. In
U.S. Patent No. 5,727,538,
No. 6,516,791, and
No. 6,532,949, different projectile firing devices and pneumatic operations are disclosed; however,
when combining the electronic devices with the pneumatically driven operations, the
mechanic devices would encounter more complexities for operations which then become
potential problems. Also, the costs for manufacturing would increase as well.
[0005] U.S. Patent No. 6,601,780 and
No. 6,925,997 disclosed a pneumatic operation for firing a paintball gun, which ensure more safety
and less malfunctions with a faster firing speed. But displacement of a flow-guiding
piston thereof within a flow-guiding body cannot be adjusted during operation; therefore
the device is unable to adjust changes of the airflow within the device in operation.
[0006] Therefore, it is desirable to overcome the problems and defects disclosed and further
find improvements for such devices.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] A primary object of the present invention is to provide a pneumatic firing device
that has a smooth operation of firing with less malfunctions and faster firing speed.
[0008] Another object of the present invention is to provide a pneumatic firing device that
has simple structure for easy assembly and low prime cost.
[0009] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a pneumatic firing device
that is able to adjust the firing speed.
[0010] In order to achieve the objects above, the present invention comprises a hollow cylinder,
a rear section, a solenoid valve, an adjusting element, a piston, an airflow guiding
element, at least one O-ring, a moving rod, a front section, a delivery tube, and
a first spring according to the annexed claim 1; whereby the solenoid valve holds
control of the operation of the pressure release channel to change the pressure difference
between a first chamber arranged at a front side of the piston and a second chamber
arranged at a rear side of the piston, then the pressured air would flow into the
first passage via the first guiding hole of the airflow guiding element, displacing
the delivery tube and driving a pellet therein to move forward, and then flow into
the second passage via the second guiding hole to fire the pellet from the passage
for firing with strong airflow.
[0011] In addition, in a preferred embodiment, the present invention further includes a
small second spring disposed between the adjusting element and the connecting hollow
for providing an ejection force for the piston to move forward; and the adjusting
element further has a non-circular socket arranged at a tail end thereof for a wrench
to adjust the position of the adjusting element from the screw hole of the rear section.
[0012] A plurality of blades may be arranged at the middle section of the stick and the
blocking section has inclined surfaces extending to both ends. The positioning element
may be a short bolt to be fixed in a front screw hole at the front of the front section,
and the positioning element further has a protruding abutting surface arranged on
the inner periphery for positioning the first spring.
[0013] The front section further may have a first concave end engaging a first convex end
of the airflow guiding element, and the first convex end has a second O-ring mounted
thereon in order to seal the engaging ends. The rear section further may have a second
concave end with a third O-ring mounted thereon to seal the engaging rear section
and second tube of the cylinder.
[0014] The delivery tube may further engage a loading device including a loading entry for
the supply of pellets and a barrel being arranged perpendicularly to the loading entry
and connecting the delivery tube; and the device and the loading device may be disposed
inside a housing, and the housing further includes a grip arranged corresponding to
the solenoid valve and the external air supply tube; the grip further has an air inlet
connecting the external air supply tube.
[0015] With features disclosed above, the present invention changes the pressure difference
between the first chamber and the second chamber, controls the operation of the pressure
release channel to push forward the delivery tube with pressured air, sending a pellet
therein into the passage for firing, and then fires the pellet from the second passage
with strong airflow. Such structure enables a smooth airflow for operation, less malfunctions,
and faster firing speed. The adjusting element can also adjust the firing speed by
displacement to control the operation of the piston.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016]
FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the present invention;
FIG. 1A is an enlarged view of major components of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the present invention illustrating a movable plunger
thereof in the original closing status;
FIG. 3A is an enlarged view of area 3A in FIG. 3;
FIG. 3B is an enlarged view of area 3B in FIG. 3;
FIG. 3C is an enlarged view of area 3C in FIG. 3B;
FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the present invention illustrating the movable plunger
and a valve thereof in an opening status;
FIG. 4A is an enlarged view of area 4A in FIG. 4;
FIG. 4B is an enlarged view of area 4B in FIG. 4;
FIG. 4C is an enlarged view of area 4C in FIG. 4B;
FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the present invention illustrating airflow entering
a second hole thereof from a first guiding hole thereof;
FIG. 5A is an enlarged view of area 5A in FIG. 5;
FIG. 5B is an enlarged view of area 5B in FIG. 5;
FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the present invention illustrating airflow entering
a passage for firing thereof from a second guiding hole thereof;
FIG. 6A is an enlarged view of area 6A in FIG. 6;
FIG. 6B is an enlarged view of area 6B in FIG. 6;
FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the present invention illustrating the movable plunger
in a closing status;
FIG. 7A is an enlarged view of area 7A in FIG. 7;
FIG. 7B is an enlarged view of area 7B in FIG. 7;
FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the present invention illustrating the movable plunger
closing, a delivery tube thereof returning back, and airflow in the second hole being
discharged from a blocking section thereof via the first guiding hole;
FIG. 8A is an enlarged view of area 8A in FIG. 8;
FIG. 8B is an enlarged view of area 8B in FIG. 8; and
FIG. 9 is a practical application view of the present invention applied to a Ball
Bearing gun.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0017] A preferred embodiment is illustrated in FIGS. 1-9, among which FIG. 9 is a practical
application view of the present invention applied to a Ball Bearing gun (BB gun).
Referring to FIGS. 1-3C, the present invention, a pneumatic firing device
90, includes a hollow cylinder
10, a rear section
20, a solenoid valve
25, an adjusting element
30, a piston
40, an airflow guiding element
50, a moving rod
60, a front section
70, a delivery tube
80, and a first spring
72.
[0018] The hollow cylinder
10 includes a first opening
11 arranged at an end thereof, a second opening
12 arranged at the other end thereof, and a first entry hole
13 arranged at the bottom thereof for connecting an external air supply tube
14.
[0019] The rear section
20 has a front end thereof engaging the second opening
12, a first hole
21 arranged at a front part thereof, a screw hole
22 arranged at a rear part thereof connecting to the first hole
21, and a pressure release vent
23 arranged at the bottom thereof connecting to the first hole
21. The pressure release vent
23 further links to a pressure release room
24 at the bottom. In this embodiment, the rear section
20 further has a second concave end
26 with a third O-ring
27 mounted thereon to seal the engaging rear section
20 and second tube
12 of the cylinder
10.
[0020] The solenoid valve
25 connects to the pressure release room
24 from under by at least one screw
256 and has a movable plunger
251 as a gate for opening and closing the pressure release room
24. The movable plunger
251 has a first outlet 253 arranged on the periphery of a hollow lower part with a third
spring
255 disposed therein, and a second outlet
254 arranged at the bottom of the solenoid valve
25 for the air released from the pressure release room
24 to be discharged therefrom via the first outlet
253 and the second outlet
254. In this embodiment, the movable plunger
251 is a movable iron core at the center of the solenoid valve
25, having a rubber piece
2511 at the front end thereof, so that when a surrounding coil
252 is activated by electric currents, the movable plunger
251 is able to stretch out and return to control the operation of the pressure release
vent
23.
[0021] The adjusting element
30 engages in the first hole
21 of the rear section
20 with a tail section arranged as a threaded section
31 for screwing the screw hole
22 and a front part including a pressure release channel
32. The pressure release channel
32 further has a through hole
35 at the front thereof and connects the pressure release vent
23 at the rear thereof. In this embodiment, the adjusting element
30 has a non-circular socket
33 arranged at a tail end thereof for a wrench
34 to adjust the displacement of the adjusting element
30 in the first hole
21 from the screw hole
22 of the rear section. For example, the non-circular socket
33 is a hexagonal socket, and the wrench
34 is an L wrench.
[0022] The piston
40 is disposed in the second opening
12 with an engaging hole
41 arranged at the front thereof and a connecting hollow
42 arranged at the rear thereof for connecting to the engaging hole
41. The piston
40 further has a fourth O-ring
44 arranged on the periphery thereof. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention
includes a small second spring
43 disposed between the adjusting element
30 and the connecting hollow
42 for providing an ejection force for the piston
40 to move forward; the piston
40 can also be driven by airflows in other embodiments.
[0023] The airflow guiding element
50 engages the cylinder
10 from the front and has a tube body
51 with a first diameter
511 at the front section thereof, a ring element
52 with a second diameter
521 at the rear thereof, and a guiding passage
522 connecting the tube body
51 and the ring element
52. The second diameter
521 is longer than the first diameter
511, and the tube body
51 further has at least one first guiding hole
512 arranged thereon at the side near the ring element
52, forming a first passage
53 connecting the cylinder
10, and at least one second guiding hole
513 arranged thereon at the side far from the ring element
52; at least two O-rings
514 are further arranged on the tube body
51, at least one of which is arranged between the first guiding hole
512 and the second guiding hole
513. Additionally, an axial hole
515 is arranged within the tube body
51 between the first guiding hole
512 and the second guiding hole
513, forming a second passage
54 connecting the second guiding hole
513; the second passage
54 is also the major passage for firing.
[0024] The moving rod
60 has a tail end
61 engaging the engaging hole
41 of the piston
40, a second entry hole
62 to link up with the connecting hollow
42, and a front end stretching out the cylinder
10 into the airflow guiding element
50 and including a valve
63 with a diameter of a length between the first and second diameter
511, 521. The valve
63 further includes a stick
64 as the front of which stretching through the axial hole
515, forming a blocking section
65 to control the blocking of the axial hole
515 upon being driven by the moving rod
60 in operation. The blocking section
65 has inclined surfaces extending to both ends so that when the moving rod
60 is moving backward and the valve
63 is leaving the guiding passage
522, a second gap
S2 is formed in between, and when the moving rod
60 is moving forward, a third gap
S3 is formed between the blocking section
65 and the axial hole
515.
[0025] In this embodiment, a plurality of blades
641 is arranged at the middle section of the stick
64 for a stably axial displacement within the airflow guiding element
50. The front section
70 engages the front of the airflow guiding element
50 and has a second hole
71. Furthermore, it has a first concave end
75 engaging a first convex end
55 of the airflow guiding element
50, and the first convex end
55 has a second O-ring
56 mounted thereon in order to seal the engaging ends.
[0026] The delivery tube
80 includes a first tube
81 and a second tube
82 connecting with each other. The diameter of the first tube
81 is longer than the one of the second tube
82 for engaging the tube body
51, and a first O-ring
83 is arranged on the surface of the first tube
81 corresponding to the second hole
71 for the delivery tube
80 to displace in the second hole
71. The first tube
81 further connects the second passage
54 to form a passage for firing
84, and when the delivery tube
80 returns to the original position, a fourth gap
S4 is formed between the first tube
81 and the first guiding hole
512.
[0027] The first spring
72 is mounted around the second tube
82 and positioned at the front of the front section
70 by a positioning element
73 in order to constantly provide an inward force for the delivery tube
80, so as to confine its displacement. In this embodiment, the positioning element
73 is a short bolt to be fixed in a front screw hole
74 at the front of the front section
70, and it has a protruding abutting surface
731 arranged on the inner periphery for positioning the first spring
72.
[0028] Further referring to FIG. 9, the present invention is applied to a BB gun. In the
application, the delivery tube
80 is engaging a loading device
100 including a loading entry
101 for the supply of airsoft pellets
102 and a barrel
103 being arranged perpendicularly to the loading entry
101 and connecting the delivery tube
80 so that when the passage for firing
84 sends out strong airflow, the pullets - airsoft pellets -
102 is fired. Additionally, the pneumatic firing device
90 and the loading device
100 are disposed inside a housing
200, and the housing
200 further includes a grip
201 arranged corresponding to the solenoid valve
25 and the external air supply tube
14 for pressured air to enter via an air inlet
202 connecting to the external air supply tube
14. The pressured air may come from a gas cylinder or other pneumatic devices. Also,
the grip
201 includes a trigger
203 for pulling and the loading device
100 can be engaged a magazine
204, as designed for application to BB guns.
[0029] The operations and applications of the pneumatic firing device
90 are described as following with referred drawings.
[0030] Referring to FIGS. 3-3C, the movable plunger
251 of the solenoid valve
25 is originally closing and blocking the pressure release vent
23 of the pressure release room
24. In this embodiment, the second spring
43 provides a pushing force for the piston
40 to move forward, therefore forming a first gap
S1 between the piston
40 and the adjusting element
30, so that the pressure air A entering a first chamber
10a arranged at a front side of the piston
40 via the first entry hole
13 is able to rapidly enter a second chamber
10b arranged at a front side of the piston
40 via the second entry hole
62 through the first gap
S1. Also, the pressured air A can enter the second chamber
10b via the through hole
35 at the front of the adjusting element
30. In other words, even if the piston
40 moves backwards and block the first gap
S1, the pressure air A will not be blocked for flowing into the second chamber
10b. The space of the first gap
S1 is decided by the displacement of the adjusting element
30 in the first hole
21 and is controlled thereby during operation. Then, when the pressure release vent
23 is blocked by the movable plunger
251, the pressured air
A is blocked as well; the piston
40 then moves forward due to the pressure difference and abuts the valve
63 of the moving rod
60 to the guiding passage
522, blocking the pressured air
A in the first chamber
10a and producing a pushing force
X. The delivery tube
80 thereby returns to original status with the ejection force from the first spring
83.
[0031] Referring to FIGS. 4-4C, the movable plunger
251 opens the pressure release vent
23 by the trigger
203, and the pressured air
A enters into the pressure release room
24 via the pressure release channel
32, then flow through the first outlet
253 of the movable plunger
251 and be discharged from the second outlet
254. The pressure force in the first chamber
10a is therefore stronger than the force of the second spring
43 and the pushing force
X, thereby detaching the valve
63 from the guiding passage
522 and forming a second gap
S2, so that the pressured air
A in the first chamber
10a would flow out from the guiding passage
522 into the first passage
53 via the first guiding hole
512 and the fourth gap
S4 and go to the second tube
82 of the delivery tube
80.
[0032] FIGS. 5-5B illustrated the operation process of the pressured air
A moving the delivery tube
80 forward. The first tube
81 of the delivery tube
80 detaches from the first guiding hole
512 but does not detach from the second guiding hole
513 yet; meanwhile the delivery tube
80 sends the airsoft pellet
102 into the barrel
103 from the loading entry
101.
[0033] Further referring to FIGS. 6-6B, when the first tube
81 of the delivery tube
80 leaving the second guiding hole
513, the pressured air
A flows into the second passage
54 via the first passage
53 and the second guiding hole
513, then fires the airsoft pellet
102 via the passage for firing
84 with strong airflow.
[0034] Then, referring to FIGS. 7-7B, the movable plunger
251 returns to block the pressure release channel
32 again and the air pressure in the second chamber
10b has changed, thus moving the piston
40 forward. The first spring
72 sends the delivery tube
80 back to the original position and the piston
40 moves forward again, back to the original closing status as shown in FIG.S 8-8B.
The valve
63 abuts to the guiding passage
522 again and blocks the second gap
S2 to stop the pressured air
A flowing from the guiding passage
522; and the third gap
S3 is opened to discharge the rest pressured air
A. Then the device returns back to the original status as shown in FIG. 3 - the delivery
tube
80 is ejected by the first spring
72 and forms the first gap
S1.
[0035] With aforesaid structures and measures, the present invention has A change of air
pressure to operate the pneumatic device
90. It pushed the airsoft pellet
102 in the delivery tube with weak airflows, and then fires with a strong one. Such structure
has effects described as following.
- 1. With the solenoid valve 25 controlling the operation of the pressure release channel 32 to change the pressure difference between the first chamber 10a and the second chamber 10b, the pressured air A flows into the first passage 53 via the first guiding hole 512 of the airflow guiding element 50, displacing the delivery tube 80 forward and driving a airsoft pellet 102 therein to move forward, and then flows into the second passage 54 via the second guiding hole 513 to fire the airsoft pellet 102 from the passage for firing 84 with strong airflow. The air flows smoothly during the operation, thus increasing
the firing speed.
- 2. With such simple structure, the present invention is easily assembled and therefore
less malfunctioned. In addition, the pneumatic firing device 90 is modular for various applications to different devices.
- 3. The first passage 53 is a minor passage for airflow to gather and enter the second passage 54 which is the major passage for the operation. The airflow is therefore able to strongly
fire the airsoft pellet 102 during the operation. Consequently the present invention is able to smoothly operate
the firing with low pressure, ensuring more safety and less cost for manufacturing.
- 4. The displacement of the adjusting element 30 in the first hole 21 of the rear section 20 is able to control the operation of the piston 40, thus enabling the device to adjust the firing speed.
[0036] Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been described in detail for
purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is
not to be limited except as by the appended claims.
1. A pneumatic firing device comprising:
a hollow cylinder (10) including a first opening (11) arranged at an end thereof,
a second opening (12) arranged at the other end thereof, and a first entry hole (13)
arranged at the bottom thereof for connecting an external air supply tube (14);
a rear section (20) having a front end thereof engaging the second opening (12) of
the cylinder (10), a first hole (21) arranged at a front part thereof, a screw hole
(22) arranged at a rear part thereof connecting to the first hole (21), and a pressure
release vent (23) arranged at the bottom thereof connecting to the first hole (21);
the pressure release vent (23) further linking to a pressure release room (24) at
the bottom;
a solenoid valve (25) connecting to the pressure release room (24) from under and
having a movable plunger (251) as a gate for opening and closing the pressure release
room (24); the movable plunger (251) having a first outlet (253) arranged at a hollow
lower part thereof, and a second outlet (254) arranged at the bottom of the solenoid
valve (25) for the air released from the pressure release room (24) to be discharged
therefrom via the first outlet (253) and the second outlet (254);
an adjusting element (30) engaging in the first hole (21) of the rear section (20)
with a tail section arranged as a threaded section (31) for screwing the screw hole
(22) and a front part including a pressure release channel (32); said pressure release
channel (32) having a through hole (35) at the front thereof and connecting the pressure
release vent (23) at the rear thereof;
a piston (40) disposed in the second opening (12) with an engaging hole (41) arranged
at the front thereof and a connecting hollow (42) arranged at the rear thereof for
connecting to the engaging hole (41); said piston (40) further forming a first gap
(S1) between which and the adjusting element (30) when moving forward;
an airflow guiding element (50) engaging the cylinder (10) from the front and having
a tube body (51) with a first diameter (511) at the front section thereof, a ring
element (52) with a second diameter (521) at the rear thereof, and a guiding passage
(522) connecting the tube body (51) and the ring element (52); the second diameter
(521) being loner than the first diameter (511); the tube body (51) further having
at least one first guiding hole (512) arranged thereon at the side near the ring element
(52), forming a first passage (53) connecting the cylinder (10), and at least one
second guiding hole (513) arranged thereon at the side far from the ring element (52);
at least one O-ring (514) being arranged on the tube body between the first guiding
hole (512) and the second guiding hole (513), and an axial hole (515) being arranged
within the tube body (51) between the first guiding hole (512) and the second guiding
hole (513), forming a second passage (54) connecting the second guiding hole (513);
a moving rod (60) having a tail end thereof engaging the engaging hole (41) of the
piston (40), a second entry hole (62) to link up with the connecting hollow (42),
and a front end thereof stretching out the cylinder (10) into the airflow guiding
element (50) and including a valve (63) with a diameter of a length between the first
and second diameter (511), (521); said valve (63) further including a stick (64) as
the front of the stick (64) stretching through the axial hole (515), forming a blocking
section (65) to control the blocking of the axial hole (515) upon being driven by
the moving rod (60) in operation; when the moving rod (60) moving backward and the
valve (63) leaving the guiding passage (522), a second gap (S2) being formed in between,
and when the moving rod (60) moving forward, a third gap (S3) being formed between
the blocking section (65) and the axial hole (515);
a front section (70) engaging the airflow guiding element (50) and having a second
hole (71);
a delivery tube (80) including a first tube (81) and a second tube (82) connecting
with each other; the diameter of the first tube (81) being longer than the one of
the second tube (82) for engaging the tube body (51), and a first O-ring (83) being
arranged on the surface of the first tube (81) corresponding to the second hole (71)
for the delivery tube (80) to displace in the second hole (71); the first tube (81)
further connecting the second passage (54) to form a passage for firing (84), and
when the delivery tube (80) returning to the original position, a fourth gap (S4)
being formed between the first tube (81) and the first guiding hole (512);
a first spring (72) mounted around the second tube (82) and positioned at the front
of the front section (70) by a positioning element (73) in order to constantly provide
an inward force for the delivery tube (80), so as to confine its displacement;
whereby the solenoid valve (25) holds control of the operation of the pressure release
channel (32) to change the pressure difference between a first chamber (10a) arranged
at a front side of the piston (40) and a second chamber (10b) arranged at a rear side
of the piston (40), then the pressured air (A) would flow into the first passage (53)
via the first guiding hole (512) of the airflow guiding element (40), displacing the
delivery tube (80) and driving a pellet (102) therein to move forward, and then flow
into the second passage (54) via the second guiding hole (513) to fire the pellet
(102) from the passage for firing (84) with strong airflow.
2. The pneumatic firing device as claimed in claim 1, further including a small second
spring (43) disposed between the adjusting element (30) and the connecting hollow
(42) for providing an ejection force for the piston (40) to move forward.
3. The pneumatic firing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the adjusting element (30)
has a non-circular socket (33) arranged at a tail end thereof for a wrench (34) to
adjust the position of the adjusting element (30) from the screw hole (22) of the
rear section (20).
4. The pneumatic firing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a plurality of blades (641)
is arranged at the middle section of the stick (64) and the blocking section (65)
has inclined surfaces extending to both ends.
5. The pneumatic firing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the positioning element
(73) is a short bolt to be fixed in a front screw hole (74) at the front of the front
section (70), and the positioning element (73) further has a protruding abutting surface
(731) arranged on the inner periphery for positioning the first spring (72).
6. The pneumatic firing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the front section (70)
further has a first concave end (75) engaging a first convex end (55) of the airflow
guiding element (50), and the first convex end (55) has a second O-ring (56) mounted
thereon in order to seal the engaging ends.
7. The pneumatic firing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rear section (20) further
has a second concave end (26) with a third O-ring (27) mounted thereon to seal the
engaging rear section (20) and second tube (82) of the cylinder (10).
8. The pneumatic firing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the delivery tube (80)
is further engaging a loading device (100) including a loading entry (101) for the
supply of pellets (102) and a barrel (103) being arranged perpendicularly to the loading
entry (101) and connecting the delivery tube (80).
9. The pneumatic firing device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the device and the loading
device (100) are disposed inside a housing (200), and the housing (200) further includes
a grip (201) arranged corresponding to the solenoid valve (25) and the external air
supply tube (14); the grip (201) further has an air inlet (202) connecting the external
air supply tube (14).