Pressure Regulator for Non-Lethal Projectile Launcher
An apparatus for launching projectiles, such as a paintball marker with a pressure regulator. In one embodiment, the regulator that employs a user-friendly On/Off valve which permits or stops gas flow to the outlet port of the regulator and vents the remaining gas from the outlet port in the OFF position. In another embodiment, a direct mount regulator is provided.
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This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. Nos. 61/029,146 for a “Paintball Gun Adapter With Sliding On/Off Valve and Venting,” 61/029,116 for a “Direct Mount Pressure Regulator With Sliding On/Off Valve,” and 61/029,104 for a “Direct Mount Adjustable Pressure Regulator” all filed Feb. 15, 2008, the entire disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELDThe present invention generally relates to an apparatus for launching projectiles. In particular, the invention relates to a pressure regulator for use with a projectile launcher.
BACKGROUNDMarking guns (commonly known as paintball guns or paintball markers) typically use compressed gas to propel frangible projectiles that break upon impact. These types of devices have a wide variety of applications. For example, a popular recreational use is in paintball games, in which opposing sides attempt to seek out and “shoot” one another with paintballs. Frangible projectiles have also been used to segregate cattle within a herd. Likewise, law enforcement personnel employ frangible projectiles with immobilizing materials for crowd control.
The compress gas used to propel the projectiles is typically stored in tanks or canisters. Although a high pressure gas is needed power these type of devices and propel projectiles, the pressure in the tank is usually much greater than the pressure needed to propel projectiles. As such, it is necessary to regulate the pressure of the compressed gas while allowing the projectile to be fired at a constant velocity.
Pressure regulators that reduce or cut off inlet flow of gas when the outlet pressure starts to exceed a predetermined level and then opens or increases flow when the outlet pressure has been reduced are known in the art. Such regulators generally include a pressure sensing actuator responsive to excess inlet pressure which closes the valve member. In this arrangement increasing gas pressure compresses the spring to force the valve member towards a valve seat. As the valve member approaches the valve seat, gas flow through the regulator becomes more restricted. When the defined pressure level is reached, the valve member contacts the valve seat to cut off flow. When the output pressure drops below the defined pressure, the valve member moves away from the valve seat and flow increases. This cycle is repeated to maintain desired outlet pressure.
The most popular regulator used with paintball guns is a direct mount type, where the outlet port is configured to be attached through a threaded ASA connection with the paintball gun adapter. This type of design causes challenges in providing outlet pressure adjustment since the spring adjustment end is placed inside the regulator body without any external access. These types of pressure regulators are being used in the paintball industry with a preset only for a specific outlet pressure valve. Since different paintball guns have a wide variety of different working pressures, there exists a need for a variable pressure regulator that allows for continuous adjustment of outlet pressure without taking apart the regulator components.
A disadvantage of this type of connection is that an opening for gas flow is provided before the regulator is fully secured and received into the adapter. As soon as a slight channel for gas flow is provided, gas exerts pressure and therefore resistance between the components. More specifically, opposing forces are exerted on the face of the regulator and on the internal surface of the adapter. In the case of gas pressure of 850 psi, the force on a given component can be as much as 320 lbs. After the gas flow this small channel is first created, additional turns are needed for the check valve to be fully open and, therefore, provide a proper full-flow channel to power the paintball gun. Those few additional turns under pressure have adverse effect on the microfinish of the thread surface. Frequent mounting and unmounting cycles lead to a distortion of the threads to the point of a friction welding phenomenon, especially when both connecting parts are made of aluminum, Utilization of aluminum as a choice of material is due to a light weight which is an important factor for paintball players.
The above described disadvantages can lead to catastrophic consequences ending in a violent disassembly of the main parts of the regulator. Since the regulator piston housing becomes friction welded to the adapter at the threaded connection, the two main parts of the regulator (i.e., piston housing and main body) can he inadvertently disassembled when the untrained user continues forcing the process of unscrewing.
SUMMARYAccording to one aspect, the invention provides a gas pressure regulator that employs a user-friendly On/Off valve which permits or stops gas flow to the outlet port of the regulator and vents the remaining gas from the outlet port in the OFF position. In some embodiments, an existing piston housing is utilized as a spool valve and an extra sleeve is used to turn the valve on and off. When the sleeve is in the off position, the regulator gas flow from the piston chamber is blocked and the gas outlet is vented to atmosphere. When the sleeve is in the on position, gas communication between piston chamber and outlet is open and at the same time the venting passageway is closed.
According to another aspect, the invention provides a direct mount pressure regulator. Embodiments are contemplated in which the regulator includes a main body with high pressure inlet, a piston housing, a regulator valve and a check valve pin which permits removal of the regulator from the ASA adapter without loss of gas. A piston may be disposed within the regulator housing and movable between an open regulator condition and closed regulator condition. Typically, a spring urges the regulator piston to the open regulator condition and is located on the outside portion of the piston. In some embodiments, the regulator's outlet pressure may be adjusted with a threaded ring placed between the wall of the regulator body and the regulator spring. Several cavities may be provided on the outside cylindrical surface of the ring for the rod insertion to rotate the ring which will change position along a symmetrical line of the regulator through threaded connection. An opening in the regulator body is disposed to provide access for the rod to communicate with the ring cavities for the pressure adjustment.
According to a further aspect, invention provides an adapter assembly disposed between the regulator and the a projectile launcher, such as a paintball marker, and is equipped with a user friendly on/off valve which permits or stops gas flow to the paintball gun and vents the remaining gas from the gun in the OFF position. In some embodiments, the adapter assembly includes an adapter housing having a female socket for receiving a threaded portion of the pressure regulator and a male head for engaging with the paintball marker. The male head can include means for threadedly engaging with the paintball marker or any other means for sealed connection. A sliding ring or a spool type of actuator is provided to turn the gas on and off, and vent the remaining gas from the paintball marker in off position.
Additional features and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of the illustrated embodiment exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the invention as presently perceived.
The present disclosure will be described hereinafter with reference to the attached drawings which are given as non-limiting examples only, in which:
Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. Components in the Figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. The exemplification set out herein illustrates embodiments of the invention, and such exemplification is not meant to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThe configuration presented in
Referring to the
With reference now to
As seen in
According to the one embodiment, adjusting ring 152 is provided with several cavities 141, placed on the outside cylindrical wall of the ring 152. Outside surface of the ring 152 is threadedly coupled with the regulator body 112. In order to make a gas pressure adjustment, a rod 180 is placed into the cavity 141 through the regulator body opening 148, as illustrated in
As shown in
The regulator 210 includes generally a main body 211, piston housing 214, piston 216, and piston spring 218. Regulator body 211 and piston housing 214 threadedly engage with one another with thread connection 217 as a two main structural components of the regulator. Coupling portion 228 extends away from valve body 211 and is adapted for sealed connection to a gas source. Fill port 232 includes a check valve (not shown) to seal pressurized gas from escaping from the tank and communicates through the passageway 233 and 234 with the tank. Inlet opening 234 communicates with the tank (not shown) and the plug chamber 222. A piston chamber 250 is defined within the sealed piston housing 214 and the piston 216 with an O-ring 248. The spring 218 is disposed between the piston 216 and the main body 211. The plug chamber 222 is configured to accommodate a valve plug 224 mounted on the piston 216 and serves as a sealing disc with valve seat 220. The plug 224 can be formed from a resilient material, such as KLF or urethane, to provide a tight seal when the plug 224 is seated on the seat 220, as shown in
In a preferred embodiment, regulator 210 is equipped with ON/OFF valve for selectively blocking the flow of the regulated gas from piston chamber 250 to the outlet chamber 260 and at the same time venting gas from the output port 256 to the atmosphere when the valve is in OFF position. As shown in
A fragmentary cross-sectional view of the ON/OFF valve in ON position is provided in
With reference now to
An alternative method of turning the valve ON and OFF is present in
The configuration presented in
Although the present disclosure has been described with reference to particular means, materials, and embodiments, from the foregoing description, one skilled in the art can easily ascertain the essential characteristics of the present disclosure and various changes and modifications may be made to adapt the various uses and characteristics without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention as set forth in the following claims.
Claims
1. A paintball gun comprising:
- a gun body and a pressurized gas tank interconnected by an adapter and a regulator that partially define a fluid pathway between the tank and the gun body, the adapter and the regulator being interconnected by complimentary threaded portions on each said element; and
- an ON/OFF valve control operably associated with the adapter, said ON/OFF valve being movable between a first position wherein a passage is defined through the adapter and second position wherein the flow of gas through the adapter is blocked and the gas in the gun is vented to atmosphere.
2. A direct mount pressure regulator for controlling the flow of the gas from a high pressure source and outputting lower pressure gas, the pressure regulator comprising:
- a regulator housing having a gas inlet, a gas outlet and defining a flow path through a piston for gas from the high pressure source to the lower pressure outlet;
- a valve mechanism in the housing for controlling the flow of the gas from a gas source to the outlet port, the valve mechanism including a biasing member for biasing the piston into an open state; and
- an adjusting ring for the cooperating engagement with the biasing member, said adjusting ring movable relative to the regulator body to deflect or release the biasing member, said adjusting ring manually accessible for adjustment through the regulator body opening.
3. A direct mount pressure regulator for controlling the flow of the gas from a high pressure source and outputting lower pressure gas, the pressure regulator comprising:
- a regulator housing having a gas inlet, a gas outlet, and defining a flow path through a piston for gas from the high pressure source to the lower pressure outlet;
- a valve mechanism in the housing for controlling the flow of the gas from a gas source to the outlet port; and
- an ON/OFF valve control operably associated with the housing, said ON/OFF valve being movable between a first position wherein a passage is defined between the gas inlet and the gas outlet and second position wherein the flow of gas to the outlet is blocked and the gas outlet is vented to atmosphere.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 12, 2009
Publication Date: Sep 17, 2009
Applicant: TIPPMANN SPORTS, LLC (Fort Wayne, IN)
Inventor: Stanley Gabrel (Round Lake, IL)
Application Number: 12/369,944