Paintball firing mechanism

Abstract

An improved pneumatic firing mechanism for a paintball gun of the electronic (automatic) type, having selectable burst-firing modes and integrated bolt and ram to improve efficiency and yet simplify manufacturing. The firing mechanism generally comprises a bolt formed with a forward portion and a fixed portion, and a coaxial valve piston inside the bolt, the valve piston being formed with a central passage for directing compressed gas from the gas inlet of said main body into the compressed gas storage area, said valve piston selectively preventing the release of compressed gas from the compressed gas storage area. Low pressure is employed in the gun in order to move the bolt rapidly forwardly towards its front shooting position, where the bolt causes high pressure gas to be released into the barrel through a high pressure gas passageway running through the center of the bolt. The number of paintballs fired in a single burst can be set by the user.

1 . A paintball marker for shooting paintballs, comprising:
 a main body having a handle grip, pivoting trigger, a muzzle defining a chamber, and a tubular barrel connected to said muzzle through which paint balls are discharged;   a paintball feed port for gravity feeding of paintballs from a hopper into said chamber;   a gas inlet for introduction of compressed gas into the main body;   a first regulator in fluid communication with said gas inlet for regulating said introduction of a low pressure charge into said main body;   a second regulator in fluid communication with said gas inlet for introduction of a high pressure charge into said main body;   a pneumatic firing mechanism comprising a bolt resident in the chamber of said main body and slidable therein;   an electronic controller circuit including a switch coupled to said trigger; and   a solenoid electrically connected to said electronic module for sequentially initiating said low pressure charge from said first regulator followed by said high pressure charge from said second regulator, said low pressure charge sliding said bolt from a ready-to-fire position in which a paintball may be gravity fed from a hopper through said paintball feed port into the chamber, to a firing position in which said high pressure charge is released from said second regulator into the chamber and barrel, thereby accelerating said paintball down and out from the barrel.   
   
   
       2 . The paintball marker according to  claim 1 , wherein said first regulator admits a low pressure charge of approximately 90 psi to said main body. 
   
   
       3 . The paintball marker according to  claim 1 , wherein said second regulator admits a high pressure charge of approximately 300 psi to said main body. 
   
   
       4 . The paintball marker according to  claim 2 , wherein said first regulator comprises a Shrader valve with valve cap. 
   
   
       5 . The paintball marker according to  claim 4 , wherein said gas inlet comprises a conventional Air Source Adapter with said first regulator attached thereto and protruding forward. 
   
   
       6 . The paintball marker according to  claim 1 , wherein said second regulator is adjustable to provide an output pressure in a range of from 0 to 900 PSI. 
   
   
       7 . The paintball marker according to  claim 6 , wherein said second regulator is preset to admit a high pressure charge of approximately 300 psi to said main body. 
   
   
       8 . The paintball marker according to  claim 1 , wherein said pneumatic firing mechanism further comprises a slidable hollow bolt resident within the chamber, and a valve piston inserted within the hollow of said bolt. 
   
   
       9 . The paintball marker according to  claim 8 , wherein said valve piston remains stationery within said main body for sealing said chamber. 
   
   
       10 . The paintball marker according to  claim 8 , wherein said slidable bolt is the only moving component within the chamber. 
   
   
       11 . A pneumatic firing mechanism for a paintball gun having a main body with a chamber formed with a gas inlet, a muzzle end, and a compressed gas storage area there between, said firing mechanism comprising:
 a tubular bolt formed with a high-pressure forward portion, a mid-section vented by a plurality of radial slots, and a low-pressure rearward chamber, said bolt being adapted for movement between a forward and a rearward position within said main body;   a valve piston formed with a central passage for directing compressed gas from the gas inlet of said main body into the compressed gas storage area, said valve piston selectively preventing the release of compressed gas from the compressed gas storage area.   
   
   
       12 . The firing mechanism for a paintball gun according to  claim 11 , wherein said valve piston remains stationery within said main body during firing. 
   
   
       13 . The firing mechanism for a paintball gun according to  claim 11 , wherein said valve piston remains stationery within said main body during firing. 
   
   
       14 . The firing mechanism for a paintball gun according to  claim 11 , wherein said bolt is moved by a low pressure charge from a ready-to-fire position to a firing position in which a high pressure charge is released into said muzzle to accelerate said paintball down and out from the barrel. 
   
   
       15 . A method of firing a paintball gun, comprising the steps of:
 loading a paintball into the chamber of a paintball marker by gravity feed;   inputting a low pressure charge of compressed gas into the chamber of said marker to move a bolt to a firing position;   inputting a high pressure charge of compressed gas into said chamber when said bolt is in the firing position to expel said paintball from the chamber.