Paintball gun having a pneumatic firing valve

Abstract

A paintball gun preferably includes a compressed gas storage chamber, a bolt, and a firing valve arranged in a longitudinal chamber of the paintball gun. The firing valve preferably includes a valve plug arranged in a sealing engagement within a plug receptacle to retain the compressed gas in the compressed gas storage chamber when the firing valve is in a closed position. In an open position, the valve plug is preferably withdrawn from the plug receptacle to permit compressed gas from the compressed gas storage chamber to enter the bolt. A pneumatic piston is preferably operably connected to the firing valve to move it between an open and closed position.

1 . A paintball gun, comprising: 
 a compressed gas storage chamber configured to house compressed gas for a firing operation of the paintball gun, said compressed gas storage area comprising a plug receptacle;    a firing valve stem having a valve plug, wherein said valve plug comprises a sealing member arranged around an external circumference of the valve plug, wherein said valve plug sealing member mates within the plug receptacle in a sealing relationship to retain compressed gas within the compressed gas storage chamber when the valve stem is arranged in a first position, and wherein said valve plug sealing member is disengaged from the plug receptacle to release compressed gas from the compressed gas storage chamber when the valve stem is arranged in a second position;    an actuating piston operably connected to the valve stem to move the valve stem between the first position and the second position.    
     
     
         2 . A paintball gun according to  claim 1 , further comprising a solenoid valve, wherein the actuating piston comprises a first surface area, and wherein the solenoid valve selectively supplies a quantity of compressed gas to and vents the quantity of compressed gas from a port in fluid communication with the first surface area of the actuating piston to move the valve stem between the first position and the second position.  
     
     
         3 . A paintball gun according to  claim 2 , wherein the first surface area is a forward surface area.  
     
     
         4 . A paintball gun according to  claim 1 , wherein the plug receptacle is arranged in a compressed gas releasing port at a forward end of the compressed gas storage chamber.  
     
     
         5 . A paintball gun according to  claim 1 , wherein the compressed gas storage area, the firing valve stem, and a bolt are all arranged in-line in a longitudinal chamber of the paintball gun.  
     
     
         6 . A paintball gun, comprising: 
 a compressed gas storage area configured to receive and store a quantity of compressed gas from a regulated gas supply, said compressed gas storage area arranged in a longitudinal bore of the paintball gun;    a bolt arranged in the longitudinal bore of the paintball gun, wherein said bolt is configured to slide between a loading position and a closed position to load paintballs into the paintball gun; and    a firing valve arranged in the longitudinal bore of the paintball gun, said firing valve comprising a valve plug having a sealing member arranged in a sealing relationship with a plug receptacle to retain compressed gas in the compressed gas storage area when the firing valve is in a closed position, wherein the valve plug sealing member is removed from the sealing relationship with the plug receptacle when the firing valve is in an open position, and wherein said firing valve is configured to slide between the closed and open position to release compressed gas from the compressed gas storage area into the bolt.    
     
     
         7 . A paintball gun according to  claim 6 , further comprising an actuating piston, wherein said actuating piston is operatively connected to the firing valve to move it between the closed and open positions.  
     
     
         8 . A paintball gun according to  claim 7 , wherein the actuating piston comprises a first and a second surface area, and wherein compressed gas is selectively supplied to and vented from the first surface area of the firing valve to operate the firing valve and wherein the second surface area does not receive a supply of compressed gas.  
     
     
         9 . A paintball gun according to  claim 6 , wherein the plug receptacle is arranged in a compressed gas releasing port of the compressed gas storage area.  
     
     
         10 . A paintball gun according to  claim 6 , wherein the compressed gas storage area is arranged in a gas storage area housing, and wherein the firing valve and bolt are slidably arranged in a pneumatic assembly housing, and wherein the gas storage area housing, and the pneumatic assembly housing are connected together end to end.  
     
     
         11 . A paintball gun, comprising: 
 a bolt and firing mechanism arranged in a same longitudinal bore of the paintball gun;    said firing mechanism comprising a valve plug having a sealing member arranged on an outer surface of the valve plug, wherein said valve plug sealing member contacts an internal surface of a plug receptacle in a sealing relationship while the firing mechanism is in a closed position;    a pneumatic actuator operatively connected to said firing mechanism to move the firing mechanism between an open and a closed position.    
     
     
         12 . A paintball gun according to  claim 11 , further comprising a compressed gas storage area, wherein the plug receptacle provides a releasing port of the compressed gas storage area.  
     
     
         13 . A paintball gun according to  claim 12 , wherein the valve plug is withdrawn from the plug receptacle to fire the paintball gun.  
     
     
         14 . A paintball gun according to  claim 11 , further comprising a solenoid valve, wherein the pneumatic actuator comprises a first piston surface area, and wherein a chamber in communication with the first piston surface area selectively receives a supply of compressed gas from and vents the supply of compressed gas through the solenoid valve to operate the firing mechanism.  
     
     
         15 . A paintball gun according to  claim 14 , wherein the pneumatic actuator further comprises a second piston surface area arranged opposite the first piston surface area, wherein a chamber area in fluid communication with the second piston surface area does not receive a supply of compressed gas.  
     
     
         16 . A paintball gun according to  claim 15 , wherein the first piston surface area is a forward surface area and wherein the second piston surface area is a rearward surface area.  
     
     
         17 . A paintball gun according to  claim 11 , wherein compressed gas acts on a rearward surface area of the firing mechanism to cause forward movement of the firing mechanism.  
     
     
         18 . A paintball gun according to  claim 11 , wherein the bolt and firing mechanism are arranged together in a pneumatic assembly housing.  
     
     
         19 . A paintball gun according to  claim 18 , wherein the bolt is operated by supplying compressed gas to a forward surface area to move the bolt to a rearward position.  
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein the pneumatic actuator comprises a piston arranged in a pneumatic cylinder.