Improvements in a more efficient use of air in a projectile launcher is disclosed. The launcher uses a two-stage air gun fire and reset to have a more efficient compressed gas usage because the gas is not wasted by performing simultaneous actions, instead, the motion dedicates a portion of the motion to firing only then transitions a “port” to close and redirect the gasses to “re-cocking” without wasted gasses going out the firing bolt. The air is redirected through a moving port or gate to allow the launcher to continue to perform and “cycle” to the point where there is low pressure in the supply tank. This prevents chopping or shredding of paintballs because the feed port of the projectiles only partially opens. The improvement allows the launcher to reliably feed and fire projectiles down to the point where it is obvious that the tank requires changing.

Improvements in a more efficient use of air in a projectile launcher is disclosed. The launcher uses a two-stage air gun fire and reset to have a more efficient compressed gas usage because the gas is not wasted by performing simultaneous actions, instead, the motion dedicates a portion of the motion to firing only then transitions a “port” to close and redirect the gasses to “re-cocking” without wasted gasses going out the firing bolt. The air is redirected through a moving port or gate to allow the launcher to continue to perform and “cycle” to the point where there is low pressure in the supply tank. This prevents chopping or shredding of paintballs because the feed port of the projectiles only partially opens. The improvement allows the launcher to reliably feed and fire projectiles down to the point where it is obvious that the tank requires changing.

The present disclosure relates to a launch system and method. The launch system and method can include at least a preliminary accelerator tube system (PAT) that can be combined with a main accelerator tube system (MAT). The PAT alone or combined with the MAT can be used for launch of a vehicle for testing and/or for delivery of a payload.

The present disclosure relates to a launch system and method. The launch system and method can include at least a preliminary accelerator tube system (PAT) that can be combined with a main accelerator tube system (MAT). The PAT alone or combined with the MAT can be used for launch of a vehicle for testing and/or for delivery of a payload.

A hand grenade for launching BB bullets includes two half shells each including a spiral bullet storage and one half shell further including a discharge opening; a hollow, cylindrical base including a bottom recess, an air passage communicating with one bullet storage, and a valve at an end of the air passage; a steel ball on the recess to block the valve; a pressing assembly including a disc urging against the steel ball, a hollow cylinder extending upward from the disc, a magnet in the hollow cylinder, and a rod partially in the hollow cylinder to engage with the magnet; a hollow, cylindrical member threadedly secured to the cylindrical base; a cup-shaped cap threadedly secured to the cylindrical member and including two opposite projections on an inner surface and a bottom through hole with the rod passing through; and a switch including two opposite protrusions under the projections respectively.

A hand grenade for launching BB bullets includes two half shells each including a spiral bullet storage and one half shell further including a discharge opening; a hollow, cylindrical base including a bottom recess, an air passage communicating with one bullet storage, and a valve at an end of the air passage; a steel ball on the recess to block the valve; a pressing assembly including a disc urging against the steel ball, a hollow cylinder extending upward from the disc, a magnet in the hollow cylinder, and a rod partially in the hollow cylinder to engage with the magnet; a hollow, cylindrical member threadedly secured to the cylindrical base; a cup-shaped cap threadedly secured to the cylindrical member and including two opposite projections on an inner surface and a bottom through hole with the rod passing through; and a switch including two opposite protrusions under the projections respectively.

A pneumatic ball launcher includes a tube, a ball pathway unit, a push unit, a holding unit, an airway unit and a pneumatic unit. The ball pathway unit is used for connecting one end of the tube and wrapping part of a ball channel of the tube. The push unit includes a push bar, a slide base, a first driver and a second driver. The holding unit, detachably connected with the push unit, is used for holding the ball pushed by the push bar. The airway unit is connected with the holding unit. The pneumatic unit includes a valve mechanism, a pneumatic cylinder and a gas tank. When the valve mechanism opens to allow the gas tank to discharge into the holding unit via the airway unit, the ball held by the holding unit would be ejected out of the tube.

A cartridge for a non-lethal self-protection system is received by a launch platform and has a barrel, a compressed gas vessel movable from a retained position to a released position, a retainer selectively retaining the compressed gas vessel in the retained position, a projectile in front of the compressed gas vessel containing an irritant, a diffuser to spread out gas behind the projectile, a cannula with a sharp tip to pierce the compressed gas vessel in the released position, and an annular seal circumscribing the projectile and extending between the projectile and the housing to retain the projectile in the housing until the compressed gas is released from the compressed gas vessel.

A cartridge for a non-lethal self-protection system is received by a launch platform and has a barrel, a compressed gas vessel movable from a retained position to a released position, a retainer selectively retaining the compressed gas vessel in the retained position, a projectile in front of the compressed gas vessel containing an irritant, a diffuser to spread out gas behind the projectile, a cannula with a sharp tip to pierce the compressed gas vessel in the released position, and an annular seal circumscribing the projectile and extending between the projectile and the housing to retain the projectile in the housing until the compressed gas is released from the compressed gas vessel.

A projectile launching apparatus includes a linear motion converter driven by a motor, a piston coupled to the linear motion converter and reciprocally movable within a cylinder, a gas spring and a breech assembly. The piston, when actuated by the linear motion converter, may energize the gas spring, and after the gas spring is fully energized, the linear motion converter may release the piston. When the piston is released, the piston may compress a gas within the cylinder, which compressed gas may be communicated to a barrel of the breech assembly. The compressed gas may expand in the barrel of the breech assembly for launching a projectile that has been chambered in the barrel, with a high velocity.