Valve arrangement

Abstract

A valve arrangement for use in a device for propelling a projectile with compressed gas, such as a paint ball marker, has a body which defines a first space for receiving compressed gas, a second space for receiving compressed gas, a first valve for selectively venting gas from the first space, and a second valve, actuated in response to the venting of gas from the first space, for releasing gas from the second space to propel the projectile. The valve arrangement may be used in various types of devices, including a revolver style apparatus in which one or more of the valve arrangements are placed in chambers of a cylinder. The valve arrangement may also be used in a cartridge or shell arrangement, which may then be loaded into a device adapted to accept and fire such cartridges or shells.

1 - 41 . (canceled)  
     
     
         42 . A revolver-style apparatus for firing a non-lethal projectile, the apparatus comprising: 
 a barrel;    a firing mechanism;    a revolving cylinder comprising at least one chamber, wherein the chamber defines a first space configured to receive compressed gas and a second space configured to receive compressed gas;    a first valve configured to vent gas from the first space responsive to operation of the firing mechanism;    a second valve configured to release gas from the second space responsive to venting of gas from the first space to propel the projectile through the barrel;    wherein the second valve includes an elongated portion and a head portion;    wherein the head portion is movable between a first position that prevents release of gas from the second space and a second position that allows release of gas from the second space; and    wherein the head portion includes a plurality of longitudinally extending grooves.    
     
     
         43 . The apparatus of  claim 42 , wherein the head portion has a substantially greater diameter than the elongated portion.  
     
     
         44 . The apparatus of  claim 43 , wherein the head portion includes a front face adjacent a bore configured to receive and position the projectile relative to the second space and the front face includes a seal configured to prevent release of gas from the second space.  
     
     
         45 . The apparatus of  claim 44 , wherein at least a portion of the head portion is adjacent to the bore without any intervening structure between at least a portion of the head portion and the bore.  
     
     
         46 . The apparatus of  claim 45 , wherein the bore is adjacent to the barrel.  
     
     
         47 . The apparatus of  claim 42 , wherein the elongated portion defines a cavity dimensioned to receive at least a portion of the first valve.  
     
     
         48 . A revolver-style apparatus for firing a non-lethal projectile, the apparatus comprising: 
 a barrel;    a firing mechanism;    a revolving cylinder comprising at least one chamber, wherein the chamber defines a first space configured to receive compressed gas and a second space configured to receive compressed gas;    a first valve configured to vent gas from the first space responsive to operation of the firing mechanism;    a second valve configured to release gas from the second space responsive to venting of gas from the first space to propel the projectile through the barrel;    wherein the second valve includes an elongated portion and a head portion;    wherein the head portion is movable between a first position that prevents release of gas from the second space and a second position that allows release of gas from the second space; and    wherein the head portion has a substantially greater diameter than the elongated portion.    
     
     
         49 . The apparatus of  claim 48 , wherein said head portion includes a front face adjacent a bore configured to receive and position the projectile relative to the second space and the front face includes a seal configured to prevent release of gas from the second space.  
     
     
         50 . The apparatus of  claim 49 , wherein at least a portion of the head portion is adjacent to the bore without any intervening structure between at least a portion of the head portion and the bore.  
     
     
         51 . The apparatus of  claim 50 , wherein the bore is adjacent to the barrel.  
     
     
         52 . The apparatus of  claim 48 , wherein the elongated portion defines a cavity dimensioned to receive at least a portion of the first valve.  
     
     
         53 . A method for converting a bullet-firing revolver into a revolver-style paintball marker, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a bullet-firing revolver with a bullet-firing cylinder disposed in a cavity of the bullet-firing revolver, wherein the bullet-firing cylinder includes a plurality of circularly arranged chambers that are each dimensioned to receive a bullet;    removing the bullet-firing cylinder from the bullet-firing revolver;    providing a paintball-firing cylinder dimensioned to be received in the cavity, wherein the paintball-firing cylinder includes a plurality of circularly arranged chambers configured to receive compressed gas, wherein the chambers of the paintball-firing cylinder have the same relative spatial relationship as the chambers of the bullet-firing cylinder and wherein each chamber of the paintball-firing cylinder includes a valve arrangement configured to propel a paintball out of the bullet-firing revolver responsive to a firing mechanism of the bullet-firing revolver; and    coupling the paintball-firing cylinder to the bullet-firing revolver.    
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 53 , further comprising the steps of removing the paintball-firing cylinder from the bullet-firing revolver and placing the paintball-firing cylinder into a container that fills each chamber with compressed gas.  
     
     
         55 . A method for charging a paintball-firing cylinder with compressed gas, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a paintball-firing revolver with a paintball-firing cylinder disposed in a cavity of the paintball-firing revolver, wherein the paintball-firing cylinder includes a plurality of circularly arranged chambers that each include a valve arrangement;    removing the paintball-firing cylinder from the bullet-firing revolver;    placing the paintball-firing cylinder into a container configured to simultaneously fill each chamber with compressed gas; and    coupling the paintball-firing cylinder to the paintball-firing revolver.