Pneumatically timed control unit for a gas operated projectile launching device

Abstract

A pneumatically timed control unit controls a gas operated projectile launching device. At rest, the control unit feeds pneumatic gas from a compressed gas supply to the launching device's loading, launching components and/or mechanisms, and/or gas storage chamber(s). Once the valve is partially activated, the control unit uses pneumatic pressure from the gas storage device to urge the valve to a fully activated position to start the launching and/or loading sequences of the launching device and to pneumatically hold the valve(s) within the control unit in the activated position. The control unit waits for pneumatic feedback and/or absence of feedback/exhausting pneumatic pressure from either the launching device's loading and/or launching components and/or mechanism, or from a gas storage chamber and/or a venting relief-type valve to release the pneumatic hold on the valve. This allows the valve to be shifted to the “at rest” position, ready for the next activation sequence.

1 . A pneumatically timed control unit assembly for a gas operated projected launching device comprising:
 a control unit having a valve movable between at least an at rest position, a partially activated position and a fully activated position, the valve being urged in the at rest position; and   a gas storage device operable to receive pneumatic pressure through the control unit in the at rest position from a compressed gas supply, wherein   when the valve is moved to the partially activated position, pneumatic pressure from the gas storage device urges the valve to the fully activated position,   wherein, in the fully activated position, a launching device receives gas pressure from the gas storage device or exhaust of pneumatic pressure from the Control Unit.   
     
     
         2 . The control unit assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a pneumatic solenoid for controlling gas flow to the launching device. 
     
     
         3 . The control unit assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a metering valve to control the flow of gas to or from the gas storage device. 
     
     
         4 . The control unit assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a pneumatic linkage device to fluidly connect the valve with the launching device. 
     
     
         5 . The control unit assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising an activation mechanism for moving the valve from the at rest position to the partially activated position. 
     
     
         6 . The control unit assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the activation mechanism includes at least one of a trigger, an actuator, a pneumatic pulse generating valve, and a shuttle valve. 
     
     
         7 . A method for launching a projectile from a projectile launching device, the method comprising:
 receiving a compressed gas supply to a valve of a control unit;   delivering the compressed gas supply to at least one of a compressed gas storage device and a firing chamber of a launching device when the valve is in an at rest position;   activating an activation mechanism, the activation mechanism operable to activate and deactivate the valve in the control unit;   urging the valve into an activated position as the activation mechanism is activated to actuate the valve by delivering gas pressure from at least one of the compressed gas storage device and the firing chamber of the launching device; and   delivering gas pressure or exhaust to or from the launching device.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the activation mechanism is at least one of a trigger, an actuator, a pneumatic pulse generating valve, and a shuttle valve. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising metering the gas flow to or from the compressed gas storage device with a metering valve. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising delivering the gas pressure to the launching device through a pneumatic solenoid. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising detecting a reduction/exhaust in pressure after the launching device has fired and allowing the valve to reset to the at rest position. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising venting gas from the control unit if the launching device does not fire after the valve has been activated through a restrictive or metering exhaust orifice.