Firing mechanism for pneumatic gun

Abstract

In the firing mechanism of a pneumatic gun that incorporates a bolt translatable from a bolt-open position to a bolt-closed position in response to compressed gas released during a firing operation, a latchable gas passageway restrictor is provided. The gas passageway restrictor is fixed in a latched position during the first portion of bolt movement from the bolt-open position to the bolt-closed position, and changes to an unlatched state during the last portion of bolt movement. While in the latched position the gas passageway restrictor reduces bolt thrust to a value preselected to not damage a jammed projectile that has not fully loaded into the gun. While in the unlatched state the gas passageway restrictor no longer reduces bolt thrust, thus ensuring that a fully loaded projectile is completely chambered. In addition, the gas passageway restrictor does not interfere with the flow of compressed gas provided to propel the projectile from the gun.

1 . A firing mechanism for a pneumatic gun, said firing mechanism comprising 
 a bolt, a bolt drive rod, a restrictable propulsion gas passageway and a latchable restrictor assembly,    said latchable restrictor assembly comprising a restrictor latch and a gas passageway restrictor,    said gas passageway restrictor comprising a restrictor pressure face and a restrictor contact face,    said bolt drive rod comprising a reduced-thrust bolt piston and a piston contact face,    said piston contact face engageable with said restrictor contact face,    said reduced-thrust bolt piston slidable into said restrictable propulsion gas passageway,    said gas passageway restrictor slidably surrounding said reduced-thrust bolt piston and captive thereon.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said restrictor latch further comprises a ring magnet and said gas passageway restrictor is constructed of a magnetically attractive material, whereby said gas passageway restrictor is retained in a latched position by magnetic attraction between said restrictor latch and said gas passageway restrictor.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said firing mechanism further comprises a bolt return spring.  
   
   
       4 . A firing mechanism for a pneumatic gun, the pneumatic gun for firing projectiles by release of compressed gas as a propellant, 
 said firing mechanism comprising a bolt, a bolt drive rod, a restrictable propulsion gas passageway and a latchable restrictor assembly,    said bolt slidably translatable between a bolt-open position and a bolt-closed position,    said latchable restrictor assembly comprising a restrictor latch and a gas passageway restrictor,    said gas passageway restrictor comprising a restrictor pressure face and a restrictor contact face,    said bolt drive rod comprising a reduced-thrust bolt piston, a full-thrust bolt piston and a piston contact face,    said reduced-thrust bolt piston smaller in diameter than said full-thrust bolt piston,    said reduced-thrust bolt piston and said full-thrust bolt piston slidable into    said restrictable propulsion gas passageway,    said gas passageway restrictor slidably surrounding said reduced-thrust bolt piston and captive thereon,    said gas passageway restrictor residing, when said pneumatic gun is ready to fire, in a latched position,    said reduced-thrust bolt piston reactive, when said gas passageway restrictor is in said latched position, to compressed gas released during a firing operation to thereby urge said bolt from said bolt-open position toward said bolt-closed position,    said piston contact face engageable with said restrictor contact face as said bolt moves toward said bolt-closed position to urge said gas passageway restrictor from said latched position to an unlatched state,    said full-thrust bolt piston reactive, when said gas passageway restrictor is in said unlatched state, to the compressed gas released during a firing operation to thereby urge said bolt toward said bolt-closed position.    
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein said restrictor latch comprises a ring magnet and said gas passageway restrictor is constructed of a magnetically attractive material, whereby said gas passageway restrictor is retained in said latched position by magnetic attraction.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein said firing mechanism comprises a bolt return spring for urging said toward said bolt-open position.  
   
   
       7 . A firing mechanism for a pneumatic gun, said firing mechanism comprising 
 a bolt, a bolt drive rod, a restrictable propulsion gas passageway and a latchable restrictor assembly,    said latchable restrictor assembly comprising a restrictor latch and a gas passageway restrictor,    said gas passageway restrictor comprising a restrictor pressure face, a restrictor contact face and a restrictor bore,    said bolt drive rod comprising a reduced-thrust bolt piston and a piston contact face,    said piston contact face engageable with said restrictor contact face,    said reduced-thrust bolt piston slidable into said restrictable propulsion gas passageway,    said gas passageway restrictor slidably surrounding said reduced-thrust bolt piston and captive thereon,    said gas passageway restrictor residing, when said pneumatic gun is ready to fire, in a latched position whereat compressed gas released during a firing operation reacts on said reduced-thrust bolt piston to urge said bolt from said bolt-open position toward said bolt-closed position,    said gas passageway restrictor retained in said latched position by magnetic attraction between said restrictor latch and said gas passageway restrictor.    
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein said restrictor latch comprises a ring magnet and said gas passageway restrictor is constructed of a magnetically attractive material.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein said firing mechanism comprises a bolt return spring for urging said toward said bolt-open position.