Cocking and Loading Apparatus for Repeater Air Rifle

Abstract

A cocking and loading system for an air rifle utilizes a movable compression cylinder linked to the cocking arm to urge a piston into a cocked position, wherein the compression cylinder returns to a rest position urging a pellet feed tube through a magazine to load a pellet into the barrel.

What I claim is: 
     
         1 . A cocking and loading apparatus for an air gun having a barrel and trigger mechanism, comprising:
 a. a movable cylinder defining an internal compression chamber and slidably mounted within a body connecting said barrel and said trigger mechanism, said cylinder selectively movable between a forward and rearward position within said body;   b. a spring loaded piston mounted within said cylinder and movable between a compressed position wherein the piston is retained by said trigger mechanism against a spring biasing force and a released position within said compression chamber and detached from said trigger mechanism;   c. a magazine, removably inserted into a magazine receiver in said body between said barrel and said cylinder; and,   d. a pellet feed tube aligned with said barrel and movable between a retracted position external of said magazine and a ready position wherein said pellet feed tube extends through said magazine to said barrel, said pellet feeding tube providing fluid communication between said barrel and said compression chamber.   
     
     
         2 . A cocking and loading apparatus as defined in  claim 1  further comprising a movable lever, connected to said cylinder such that movement of said lever between a stored position and a cocking position causes said cylinder to move from said forward position to said rearward position. 
     
     
         3 . A cocking and loading apparatus as defined in  claim 1  wherein said cylinder receives said piston within said internal compression chamber and urges said piston into engagement with said trigger mechanism. 
     
     
         4 . A cocking and loading apparatus as defined in  claim 1  wherein said cylinder is made from stainless steel. 
     
     
         5 . A cocking and loading apparatus as defined in  claim 1  wherein said cylinder is made from an extruded polymer. 
     
     
         6 . A cocking and loading apparatus as defined in  claim 1  wherein said pellet feed tube is integral with a carrier within said body and biased away from said barrel, said carrier and said pellet feed tube positioned between said magazine and said cylinder such that movement of said cylinder to a forward position in said body urges said carrier to position said pellet feed tube within said magazine. 
     
     
         7 . A cocking and loading apparatus as defined in  claim 6  wherein said carrier also has a magazine locking pin extending therefrom for locking said magazine in place. 
     
     
         8 . A cocking and loading apparatus as defined in  claim 6  wherein said carrier includes a damping gasket. 
     
     
         9 . A cocking and loading apparatus as defined in  claim 6  further comprising a movable lever, connected to said cylinder such that movement of said lever between a stored position and a cocking position causes said cylinder to move from said forward position to said rearward position. 
     
     
         10 . A cocking and loading apparatus as defined in  claim 9  wherein said cylinder receives said piston there within and urges said piston into engagement with said trigger mechanism. 
     
     
         11 . A cocking and loading apparatus as defined in  claim 10  wherein said spring loaded magazine comprises a carousel having a plurality of pellet receiving chambers, a front and rear cover closing the magazine with said carousel mounted therein, said front and rear covers each having an aperture there through, aligned with each other and with said pellet feed tube when said magazine is positioned in said ready position, whereby each of the plurality of pellet receiving chambers may rotate into alignment with said apertures. 
     
     
         12 . A cocking and loading apparatus as defined in  claim 1  wherein said magazine comprises a carousel having a plurality of pellet receiving chambers, a front and rear cover closing the magazine with said carousel mounted therein, said front and rear covers each having an aperture there through, aligned with each other and with said pellet feed tube when said magazine is positioned in said ready position, whereby each of the plurality of pellet receiving chambers may rotate into alignment with said apertures. 
     
     
         13 . A cocking and loading apparatus as defined in  claim 12  wherein said magazine includes protruding portion having an aperture therein for receipt of a magazine locking pin mounted for movement in coordination with said pellet feed tube. 
     
     
         14 . A cocking and loading apparatus as defined in  claim 1  wherein said pellet feed tube is integrally formed on said cylinder in direct alignment with said barrel. 
     
     
         15 . A cocking and loading apparatus as defined in  claim 14  wherein said cylinder is made from stainless steel 
     
     
         16 . A cocking and loading apparatus as defined in  claim 14  wherein said magazine comprises a carousel having a plurality of pellet receiving chambers, a front and rear cover closing the magazine with said carousel mounted therein, said front and rear covers each having an aperture there through, aligned with each other and with said pellet feed tube and barrel when said magazine is positioned in said ready position, whereby each of the plurality of pellet receiving chambers may rotate into alignment with said barrel. 
     
     
         17 . A cocking and locking apparatus as defined in  claim 1  wherein the relative lengths of said pellet feed tube and said compression chamber are such that retraction of said cylinder to an open magazine position, at which said pellet feed tube is disengaged from said magazine, does not move said piston to said compressed position, whereby said magazine can be removed from said magazine receiver without fully cocking the piston. 
     
     
         18 . A cocking and loading apparatus as defined in  claim 17  further comprising a movable lever, connected to said cylinder such that selective movement of said lever between a stored position, a lever position and a cocking position causes said cylinder to move between said forward position, said open magazine position and said rearward position. 
     
     
         19 . A cocking and loading apparatus as defined in  claim 1  wherein said barrel and said pellet feed tube are sealed to one another by O-rings mounted therebetween. 
     
     
         20 . A cocking and loading apparatus as defined in claim  21  wherein said barrel includes an enlarged bore proximal said body within which said O-rings are retained.