Air gun system and method

Abstract

An air gun in combination with a vacuum source is powered by pressurized gas that is received through a gas inlet. The air gun and the vacuum source are configured to be simultaneously operable using the pressurized gas, which provides a method for conveniently air cleaning various objects.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An air gun system comprising:
 an air gun; 
 a vacuum source; 
 an air inlet configured to be connected to a source of pressurized air; and 
 an air gun air tube for providing air traveling through the air inlet to the air gun; and 
 the air gun and the vacuum source both connected to the air inlet, wherein the air gun and the vacuum source are simultaneously operable using the pressurized air wherein the vacuum source comprises a fan for generating suction, the fan connected to an air motor configured to be driven by the pressurized air, wherein the air gun comprises a nozzle and a trigger, the trigger for opening an air passage in the air gun for discharging the pressurized air through the nozzle when the trigger is squeezed and further comprising a valve assembly connected to the air gun air tube, the air motor air tube, and the air inlet, the valve assembly configured to allow pressurized air to travel from the air inlet to the air motor air tube and the air gun air tube when the valve assembly is in an open state and to block pressurized air from traveling from the air inlet to the air motor air tube when the valve assembly is in a closed state, the valve assembly alternating between the open and closed states in response to the trigger being squeezed and released. 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the air gun comprises a nozzle and a trigger, the trigger for opening an air passage in the air gun for discharging the pressurized air through the nozzle when the trigger is squeezed. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 an air gun air tube for providing air traveling through the air inlet to the air gun; and   an air motor air tube for providing air traveling through the air inlet to the air motor.   
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 2 , further comprising a valve assembly connected to the air gun air tube, the air motor air tube, and the air inlet, the valve assembly configured to allow pressurized air to travel from the air inlet to the air gun air tube and the air motor air tube when the valve assembly is in an open state and to block pressurized air from traveling from the air inlet to the air gun air tube and the air motor air tube when the valve assembly is in a closed state, the valve assembly alternating between the open and closed states in response to the trigger being squeezed and released. 
     
     
       5. The system of claim  4  1, wherein the vacuum source and the air gun are simultaneously operable when the valve assembly is in the open state, and wherein the air gun further comprises a valve connected to the trigger, the valve opening the air passage when the trigger is squeezed. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 5 , wherein the valve assembly comprises a piston chamber having a moveable piston disposed therein, the piston comprising a piston top surface and a piston bottom surface, the piston dividing the piston chamber into an upper region above the piston top surface and a lower region below the piston bottom surface, the piston further comprising a bleed hole extending between the upper region and the lower region. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 6 , wherein the air gun air tube and the pressurized air tube are both in communication with the piston chamber. 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 7 , wherein the valve assembly includes a valve body and the piston includes a piston rod extending from the piston bottom surface through a piston rod guide tube in the valve body, wherein a bottom surface of the piston rod is exposed to an air pressure external to the valve assembly. 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 8 , wherein the valve assembly is configured such that the piston is positioned further from the piston rod guide tube when the valve assembly is in the open state than when the valve assembly is in the closed state. 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 8 , wherein the valve assembly is configured such that a force exerted by the air in the piston chamber is greater on the piston top surface than on the piston bottom surface when the valve assembly is in the closed state.