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 is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A movable compression cylinder for an air rifle, said movable compression cylinder comprising;
 a cylinder body configured to be received within a cylinder housing of the air rifle when the air rifle is assembled; and   a pellet feed tube extending forward from the cylinder body toward a muzzle of the air rifle when the air rifle is assembled.   
     
     
         2 . The movable compression cylinder of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the pellet feed tube is hollow; and   the pellet feed tube is configured to deliver compressed air to a chamber of the air rifle when the air rifle is fired.   
     
     
         3 . The movable compression cylinder of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the cylinder body is hollow;   the pellet feed tube is hollow;   the cylinder body has a forward end that is enclosed except for the pellet feed tube extending therefrom; and   the pellet feed tube is in fluid communication with the cylinder body such that compressed air within the cylinder body is transferred from the cylinder body through the pellet feed tube to a chamber of the air rifle when the air rifle is fired.   
     
     
         4 . The movable compression cylinder of  claim 1 , wherein the cylinder body is configured to be moved between a forward position within the cylinder housing and a rear position at least partially within the cylinder housing by movement of a cocking mechanism of the air rifle engaged with the cylinder body when the air rifle is assembled. 
     
     
         5 . The movable compression cylinder of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the cylinder body is configured to be moved between a forward position within the cylinder housing and a rear position at least partially within the cylinder housing by movement of a cocking mechanism of the air rifle engaged with the cylinder body when the air rifle is assembled; and   the pellet feed tube is configured to push a projectile from a magazine received in the air rifle into a chamber of the air rifle when the compression cylinder moves from the rear position to the forward position.   
     
     
         6 . The movable compression cylinder of  claim 1 , wherein the pellet feed tube has a reduced outer diameter at a forward end of the pellet feed tube such that the pellet feed. 
     
     
         7 . The movable compression cylinder of  claim 1 , wherein the pellet feed tube has a reduced outer diameter at a forward end of the pellet feed tube such that the forward end of the pellet feed tube extends into a projectile to be fired by the air rifle as the pellet feed tube begins releasing compressed air into a chamber of the air rifle when the air rifle is fired. 
     
     
         8 . The movable compression cylinder of  claim 1 , wherein a rear end of the cylinder body opposite the forward end of the cylinder body is open. 
     
     
         9 . The movable compression cylinder of  claim 1 , wherein the pellet feed tube is tapered at a forward end of the pellet feed tube. 
     
     
         10 . The movable compression cylinder of  claim 1 , wherein the pellet feed tube is integrally formed with the cylinder body. 
     
     
         11 . An air rifle comprising:
 a movable compression cylinder comprising;
 a cylinder body configured to be received within a cylinder housing of the air rifle when the air rifle is assembled; and 
 a pellet feed tube extending forward from the cylinder body toward a muzzle of the air rifle when the air rifle is assembled. 
   
     
     
         12 . The air rifle of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the pellet feed tube is hollow; and   the pellet feed tube is configured to deliver compressed air to a chamber of the air rifle when the air rifle is fired.   
     
     
         13 . The air rifle of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the cylinder body is hollow;   the pellet feed tube is hollow;   the cylinder body has a forward end that is enclosed except for the pellet feed tube extending therefrom; and   the pellet feed tube is in fluid communication with the cylinder body such that compressed air within the cylinder body is transferred from the cylinder body through the pellet feed tube to a chamber of the air rifle when the air rifle is fired.   
     
     
         14 . The air rifle of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the cylinder body is configured to be moved between a forward position within the cylinder housing and a rear position at least partially within the cylinder housing by movement of a cocking mechanism of the air rifle engaged with the cylinder body when the air rifle is assembled.   
     
     
         15 . The air rifle of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the cylinder body is configured to be moved between a forward position within the cylinder housing and a rear position at least partially within the cylinder housing by movement of a cocking mechanism of the air rifle engaged with the cylinder body when the air rifle is assembled; and   the pellet feed tube is configured to push a projectile from a magazine received in the air rifle into a chamber of the air rifle when the compression cylinder moves from the rear position to the forward position.   
     
     
         16 . The air rifle of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the pellet feed tube has a reduced outer diameter at a forward end of the pellet feed tube such that the forward end of the pellet feed tube extends into a projectile to be fired by the air rifle as the pellet feed tube begins releasing compressed air into a chamber of the air rifle when the air rifle is fired.   
     
     
         17 . The air rifle of  claim 11 , wherein:
 a rear end of the cylinder body opposite the forward end of the cylinder body is open;   the pellet feed tube is integrally formed with the cylinder body; and   the pellet feed tube is tapered at a forward end of the pellet feed tube.   
     
     
         18 . The air rifle of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a piston configured to fit within the cylinder body and extend rearwardly from a rear end of the cylinder body.   
     
     
         19 . The air rifle of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a piston configured to fit within the cylinder body and extend rearwardly from a rear end of the cylinder body when the air rifle is assembled, wherein the piston comprises a gasket configured to seal against an inside surface of the cylinder body.   
     
     
         20 . The air rifle of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a piston configured to fit partially within the cylinder body and extend rearwardly from a rear end of the cylinder body when the air rifle is assembled, wherein:
 the piston is configured to seal against an inside surface of the cylinder body at a front end of the piston; 
 the piston is generally cylindrical; and 
 a rear end of the piston has an opening; and 
   a gas spring configured to fit within the piston and extend through the opening in the rear end of the piston, wherein:
 the gas spring is compressed when the cylinder body is moved to the rear position via a cocking mechanism of the air rifle; and 
 the gas spring decompresses when the air rifle is fired via a trigger assembly of the air rifle.