Air Gun
20230036552 · 2023-02-02
Inventors
Cpc classification
F41B11/723
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
International classification
Abstract
The present invention discloses an air gun. The air gun having a recoil gas unit and a bolt carrier unit. The recoil gas unit comprises a recoil guide tube configured to supply compressed air and a recoil assembly spring for movement of the recoil tube carrier. The bolt carrier unit is coupled to the recoil gas unit and comprises a piston disposed at a first end of the bolt carrier unit. The bolt carrier unit also comprises a valve chamber for performing a firing stroke of the air gun. The bolt carrier unit also comprises a piston chamber integrated at a second end of the bolt carrier unit. The piston chamber is configured to facilitate movement of the piston and to receive the compressed air, for performing a recoiling stroke of the air gun. The recoil gas unit facilitates the firing stroke and the recoiling stroke of the air gun.
Claims
1. An air gun comprising: a recoil gas unit comprising: a recoil guide tube configured to supply compressed air; a recoil assembly spring wrapped around the recoil guide tube, and disposed within a recoil tube carrier, for movement of the recoil tube carrier; and a bolt carrier unit coupled to the recoil gas unit, the bolt carrier unit comprising: a piston disposed at a first end of the bolt carrier unit; a valve chamber, wherein the valve chamber is configured to receive the compressed air, for performing a firing stroke of the air gun; and a piston chamber integrated at a second end of the bolt carrier unit, between a cap of the bolt carrier unit and the piston, wherein the piston chamber is configured to facilitate movement of the bolt carrier unit and to receive the compressed air, for performing a recoiling stroke of the air gun, wherein the recoil gas unit facilitates the compressed air to flow towards the valve chamber of the valve chamber and the piston chamber of the bolt carrier unit, to facilitate the firing stroke and the recoiling stroke of the air gun.
2. The air gun as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bolt carrier unit further comprises: a firing pin integrated at the second end of the bolt carrier unit, and actuated by a hammer attached to a trigger of the air gun; and a retainer coupled to the cap of the bolt carrier unit and the firing pin, the retainer is configured to hold the firing pin from falling out of the bolt carrier unit.
3. The air gun as claimed in claim 1, wherein the piston comprises: a piston head at a first end of the piston; a valve pin coupled with the piston head, at a second end of the piston; and a valve pin spring wrapped around the valve pin, wherein the piston head is configured to remain stationary, and the valve pin is configured to move towards a barrel of the air gun to release air, after the firing stroke is completed, to compress the valve pin spring.
4. The air gun as claimed in claim 3, wherein the piston head is configured to move within the bolt carrier unit, during the firing stroke of the air gun.
5. The air gun as claimed in claim 3, wherein the second end of the piston is configured to interface with a forward end of the valve pin to seal the valve chamber.
6. The air gun as claimed in claim 5, wherein the bolt is configured to be pushed forward against the barrel, causing the bolt carrier unit to move rearwards and the bolt is configured to be pulled rearwards by a recoiling action of the bolt carrier unit.
7. The air gun as claimed in claim 3, wherein the valve chamber is configured to continuously receive the compressed air during the movement of the piston towards the barrel of the air gun, to move the valve chamber rearwards and to release a shut-off valve.
8. The air gun as claimed in claim 7, wherein the shut-off valve is disposed along a length of the recoil guide tube, and is configured to hinder the compressed air being delivered to the valve chamber.
9. The air gun as claimed in claim 1, wherein the recoil assembly spring is configured to push the bolt carrier unit forward to a resetting position, when the recoil stroke is completed.
10. The air gun as claimed in claim 9, wherein the recoil assembly spring is configured to decompress to an initial length, when the bolt carrier unit moves forward to the resetting position.
11. The air gun as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bolt carrier unit further comprises a check valve integrated on a side air passage of the bolt carrier unit, and is configured to prevent the compressed air from venting out of the valve chamber.
12. The air gun as claimed in claim 11, wherein the ball check valve is further configured to retain the compressed air within the valve chamber, when the bolt carrier unit is retracted from a forward ready to fire position.
13. The air gun as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bolt carrier unit further comprises a recoil piston return spring placed within the piston chamber, and coupled with the cap and the piston head, wherein the recoil piston return spring is configured to facilitate a recoiling action of the bolt carrier unit when the compressed air is fed into the piston chamber after the firing stroke.
14. The air gun as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cap of the bolt carrier unit is coupled with an O-ring to seal the valve chamber from ambient atmosphere.
15. The air gun as claimed in claim 2, wherein the air gun is configured for an automatic function, by recharging the hammer during a rearward movement of the bolt carrier unit at the end of the recoiling stroke.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] The accompanying drawings illustrate various embodiments of systems, methods, and embodiments of various aspects of the disclosure. Any person of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the illustrated element boundaries (e.g., boxes, groups of boxes, or other shapes) in the figures represent one example of the various boundaries representative of the disclosed invention. It may be that in some examples one element may be designed as multiple elements or that multiple elements may be designed as one element. In other examples, an element shown as an internal component of one element may be implemented as an external component in another, and vice versa. Furthermore, elements may not be drawn to scale. Non-limiting and non-exhaustive descriptions of the present disclosure are described with reference to the following drawings. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon the illustrated principles.
[0018] Various embodiments will hereinafter be described in accordance with the appended drawings, which are provided to illustrate and not to limit the scope of the disclosure in any manner, wherein similar designations denote similar elements, and in which:
[0019]
[0020]
[0021]
[0022]
[0023]
[0024]
[0025]
[0026]
[0027]
[0028]
[0029]
[0030]
[0031]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0032] Reference will now be made in detail to specific embodiments or features, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, corresponding or similar reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or corresponding parts. Moreover, references to various elements described herein, are made collectively or individually when there may be more than one element of the same type. However, such references are merely exemplary in nature. It may be noted that any reference to elements in the singular may also be construed to relate to the plural and vice-versa without limiting the scope of the disclosure to the exact number or type of such elements unless set forth explicitly in the appended claims.
[0033] In the interest of clarity, not all of the routine features of the implementations described herein are shown and described. It will, of course, be understood that in the development of any such actual implementation, numerous implementation-specific decisions may be made in order to achieve the developer's specific goals, such as compliance with application- and business-related constraints, and that these specific goals will vary from one implementation to another and from one developer to another. Moreover, it will be understood that such a development effort might be complex and time-consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking of engineering for those of ordinary skills in the art having the benefit of this disclosure.
[0034] Some embodiments of this disclosure, illustrating all its features, will now be discussed in detail. The words “comprising,” “having,” “containing,” and “including,” and other forms thereof, are intended to be equivalent in meaning and be open-ended in that an item or items following any one of these words is not meant to be an exhaustive listing of such item or items, or meant to be limited to only the listed item or items.
[0035] It must also be noted that as used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural references unless the context dictates otherwise. Although any number of systems and methods similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of embodiments of the present disclosure, the preferred systems, and methods are now described.
[0036] Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like numerals represent like elements throughout the several figures, and in which example embodiments are shown. Embodiments of the present disclosure may, however, be embodied in alternative forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. The examples set forth herein are non-limiting examples and are merely examples among other possible examples.
[0037]
[0038] In one embodiment, the air gun 100 may be a replica of traditional firearms such as AK-47 or AK-M type. The air gun 100 may comprise a housing 102, a cover 104, a magazine 106, a trigger 108, an air inlet swivel 110, a handle 112, a barrel 114, a buttstock 116, and a handguard 118. The housing 102 may enclose a recoil gas unit 120 and a bolt carrier unit 122. It can be noted that the recoil gas unit 120 and the bolt carrier unit 122 together perform various operations of the air gun 100. Further, the recoil gas unit 120 may be coupled to the bolt carrier unit 122. In one embodiment, the bolt carrier unit 122 may be referred as a recoiling element, as the bolt carrier unit 122 may be configured to perform, a recoiling action by the moving between a first position to a second position within the housing 102. In one embodiment, the bolt carrier unit 122 may be referred to as a bolt carrier assembly and the recoil gas unit 120 may be referred to as a recoiling assembly.
[0039] At first, the housing 102 may be provided with the cover 104 to protect the recoil gas unit 120 and the bolt carrier unit 122 from air intake or dust. It can be noted that the cover 104 may be detachably coupled to the housing 102. Further, the cover 104 may be made from a material selected from a group of materials such as, but not limited to, stainless-steel, polymer, carbon fiber, plastic, metal, or alloy. In one embodiment, the cover 104 and the housing 102 may be made of the same material. Further, the air gun 100 includes the magazine 106 for storing projectiles. In one embodiment, the air gun 100 may use a plurality of forms of feeding projectiles via the magazine 106, such as, but not limited to, a spring tube feed, a gravity feed from a hopper, a belt feed, or a force feed system that uses electronic, mechanical, or pneumatic actuation to feed projectiles into the air gun 100. It can be noted that the magazine 106 may be detachably coupled to the housing 102 of the air gun 100, as shown in
[0040] Further, the magazine 106 may hold a pre-defined number of projectiles. In one exemplary embodiment, the magazine 106 holds 20 projectiles. Further, the magazine 106 may facilitate automatic reloading of the air gun 100. It can be noted that the use of the magazine 106 reduces the time and need to re-load the air gun 100 manually, each time a projectile is fired from the air gun 100. Further, the size of the projectile may be based on the dimensions of the air gun 100 and the dimensions of the magazine 106. In one embodiment, the projectiles may be made from a material selected from a group of materials from stainless-steel, polymer, carbon fiber, plastic, metal, alloy, etc. In one exemplary embodiment, the projectiles may be paintballs and the air gun 100 may be a paintball air gun, being used in the game of paintball. The projectile can also be referred to as an object, such as, but not limited to, paintball, non-lethal projectile (such as pepper balls), lead or plastic pellets of various calibers, shooting foam darts, or foam-balls, a less-lethal projectile, and/or lethal projectile. For example, a non-lethal projectile can be a food-color based paintball, and a lethal projectile can be a bullet. It should be noted that the terms “paintball,” “non-lethal projectile,” “less-lethal projectile,” and “lethal projectile” will be used interchangeably herein.
[0041] In one embodiment, as shown in
[0042] In one embodiment, the air gun 100 further comprises the trigger 108 coupled to the housing 102 of the air gun 100. It can be noted that the trigger 108 may be disposed between the handle 112 and the magazine 106 of the air gun 100. Further, the trigger 108 may be actuated to allow an operator of the air gun 100, to control a firing operation of the air gun 100. In one embodiment, the trigger 108 may be manually actuated. In one exemplary embodiment, the manual actuation of the trigger 108 may be initiated by pulling the trigger 108 backward. Further, the trigger 108 may allow the operator to initiate a mechanism or operation of the air gun 100, when a trigger 108 is actuated by the operator. It can be noted that the trigger 108 may allow the operator to fire the projectile from the air gun 100. Further, the trigger 108 may be of a suitable shape, to allow the operator of the air gun 100, to comfortably rest his/her finger on the trigger 108. In one embodiment, the trigger 108 may be made from a material selected from a group of materials such as, but not limited to, stainless-steel, polymer, carbon fiber, plastic, metal, alloy, etc. In another embodiment, the trigger 108 and the housing 102 may be made of the same material.
[0043] In one embodiment, the air gun 100 comprises the air inlet swivel 110 which may be disposed at a lower end of the air gun 100. In one embodiment, the air inlet swivel 110 may be integrated within the handle 112. The air inlet swivel 110 may be herein referred to as an air flow guiding element. Further, the air inlet swivel 110 may be connected to a compressed air flow unit or an external air compressor. In one embodiment, the compressed air flow unit may be an air pressure vessel or an air tank. The air inlet swivel 110 may be configured to supply a stream of compressed or pressurized gas or air to launch a projectile such as a paintball, through the air gun 100. Further, the air inlet swivel 110 may be coupled with a means to supply air at a predefined pressure into the recoil gas unit 120 within the housing 102, via the handle 112. It can be noted that the recoil gas unit 120 may receive compressed air from the air inlet swivel 110, via an external air supply. The air supply may be attached to the air gun 100, via the air inlet swivel 110. In one embodiment, the air supply may bypass the handle 112 entirely. In one exemplary embodiment, the air supply may be attached to the buttstock 116 of the air gun 100. The air pressure may be supplied into the recoil gas unit 120 and thereby into the bolt carrier unit 122, to perform the firing operation (as described below) of the air gun 100. Further, the trigger 108 may be actuated to prepare the bolt carrier unit 122 to eject the projectile when the air pressure is fed from the air inlet swivel 110, out of the air gun 100 towards a target. It can be noted that air inlet swivel 110 may be shaped to easily attach to an external air supply. Further, the air inlet swivel 110 may be coupled to an external air supply, using an adapter (not shown). The air inlet swivel 110 may be made from a group of materials such as stainless-steel, polymer, carbon fiber, plastic, metal, alloy, etc. Such use of the air inlet swivel 110 may allow the use of a fixed supply of air to fire the projectile, to reduce the amount of energy loss from air charge for firing the projectile.
[0044] In one embodiment, the handle 112 may allow an operator of the air gun 100, to hold the air gun 100. The handle 112 may be made from a material selected from a group of materials such as, but not limited to, stainless-steel, polymer, carbon fiber, plastic, metal, alloy, etc. In another embodiment, the handle 112 and air gun 100 may be made of the same material. In one embodiment, the handle 112 may be provided with an additional grip, which allows firm hold of the air gun 100 by the user. In one embodiment, the grip may be an outer layer on the handle 112, which provides an anti-slip hold to the user. The grip may be made from an elastic material such as rubber, or may be carved into the material of the handle 112.
[0045] In one embodiment, the air gun 100 comprises the barrel 114 that allows the projectile to be ejected from the air gun 100, towards the target. It can be noted that a first end of the barrel 114 may be connected to the housing 102 and the second end of the barrel 114 may be set free, from where the projectile ejects. Further, the first end of the barrel 114 may be configured to receive the projectile, when pushed forward during the recoil stroke. The barrel 114 may be a straight shooting tube, usually made of rigid high-strength metal, through which a contained rapid expansion of high-pressure gas(es) is used to propel the projectile out of the air gun 100. In one embodiment, the barrel 114 may comprise a muzzle (not shown) connected to the second end of the barrel 114. It can be noted that precision matching of the muzzle is crucial to accuracy, as it is the last point of contact between the barrel 114 and the projectile. Further, it can also be noted that the barrel 114 may incorporate rifling or other treatment to affect the projectile for greater accuracy or range.
[0046] In one embodiment, the air gun 100 includes the buttstock 116 that may be referred to as a back handle or telescoping stock. Further, the buttstock 116 may be detachably coupled from the air gun 100. The buttstock 116 may be coupled to a rear end of the air gun 100, as shown in
[0047] In one embodiment, the air gun 100 comprises the handguard 118 disposed around the barrel 114 of the air gun 100. In one embodiment, the handguard 118 may be a pair of pieces with a first piece wrapped around a lower section of the barrel 114 and a second piece wrapped around an upper section of the barrel 114. In another embodiment, the handguard 118 may be a single piece wrapped around the barrel 114. The handguard 118 may be provided to hold the air gun 100 while firing projectiles. In one exemplary embodiment, a right hand operator while using the air gun 100, holds the handle 112 into the right hand with a forefinger resting on the trigger 108, and the handguard 118 may be held by the left hand of the operator. In one embodiment, the handguard 118 may be made from materials that are light in weight and are good absorbers of sound. The handguard 118 may facilitate in reducing the sound or noise produced during the firing of projectiles and recoiling of the air gun 100. In one exemplary embodiment, the handguard 118 may be made from a material selected from a group of materials such as, but not limited to, wood, polymer, plastic, carbon fiber, or any metal. In one embodiment, the handguard 118 may be made of a sheet metal with perforations, to dissipate heat of the air gun 100.
[0048] The housing 102 of the air gun 100 may be covered with a main body made from any possible lightweight material such as wood, carbon fiber, polymer, etc. Further, all the components or parts of the air gun 100 herein disclosed may be made from materials selected from a group of materials of steel, polymer, wood, carbon fiber, etc. without departing from the scope of the disclosure. It may be apparent to one skilled in the art, that the air gun 100 may comprise some other elements as well, apart from the above disclosed elements.
[0049]
[0050]
[0051] In one embodiment, the air gun 100 may comprise a regulator 202, coupled to the handle 112. The regulator 202 may also be coupled to a recoil guide tube 204, which may be positioned under the cover 104 of the air gun 100. It can be noted that the regulator 202 may supply an air charge or compressed air, which may travel upwards into the recoil guide tube 204. Further, the regulator 202 may be connected to the recoil guide tube 204, via an air channel. In one embodiment, the regulator 202 may act as a screw to clamp the handle 112 onto the air gun 100. In one exemplary embodiment, the regulator 202 may be referred to as an air flow guiding element or an air passage. In one exemplary embodiment, the recoil guide tube 204 may be a long elongated pipe used to guide the compressed air in the air gun 100, into the bolt carrier unit 122, for ejecting the projectile. Further, the recoil guide tube 204 may be configured to supply the air charge or compressed air. Further, the recoil guide tube 204 may be wrapped around with a recoil assembly spring 206, which may assist the recoil guide tube 204 during the recoiling action of the air gun 100. In one embodiment, the recoil guide tube 204 may be coupled to a shut-off valve 208 at a front end of the air gun 100, as shown in
[0052] In one embodiment, the trigger 108 may be disposed between the handle 112 and the magazine 106 of the air gun 100. It can be noted that the air gun 100 is put into action, when the trigger 108, is pulled backwards by an operator of the air gun 100. In one embodiment, the trigger 108 may be pulled backwards manually in order to actuate a hammer 210. Further, the hammer 210 may be mounted to the housing 102 over an axis pin, and a spring between the trigger 108 and hammer 210, may cause the hammer 210 to swing up and move forward with force. Further, when actuated, the hammer 210 may strike a firing pin 212 of the bolt carrier unit 122. It can be noted that the firing pin 212 may be the first component of the bolt carrier unit 122, which is triggered by the trigger 108, via the hammer 210. Further, the firing pin 212 may be disposed at a rear end or a second end of the bolt carrier unit 122. In one embodiment, the firing pin 212 may be provided with a retainer 214, disposed on an inner side of the bolt carrier unit 122. In one embodiment, the retainer 214 may be on an outer side of the bolt carrier unit 122 or on an outer side of the firing pin 212. It can be noted that the retainer 214 may allow the bolt carrier unit 122, to retain or hold the firing pin 212 in place and may prevent the firing pin 212 from falling out of the bolt carrier unit 122.
[0053] Further, the bolt carrier unit 122 may comprise a piston head 216 and a recoil piston return spring 218. In one embodiment, a first end of the recoil piston return spring 218 may be coupled to the retainer 214, and a second end of the recoil piston return spring 218 may be coupled to the piston head 216. In one embodiment, the recoil piston return spring 218 may be positioned between a forward face of the piston head 216, and an inside surface of the bolt carrier unit 122. Further, the bolt carrier unit 122 may comprise a valve chamber 220 integrated within a piston 224. Further, the recoil piston return spring 218, may act to bias the piston 224 towards rear, and ensures that a rear edge of the piston 224 may be sealed into a rear end of a piston chamber 226. Further, the piston chamber 226 may be a region integrated behind the piston head 216. In one embodiment, the piston chamber 226 may be referred as a cylinder bore. Further, at rest, the piston 224 may be at the rear end of the piston chamber 226, and the valve chamber 220 may be at a maximal volume while the piston chamber 226 may be at minimal volume. Further, during firing, as the recoil stroke starts to happens, the piston chamber 226 may be filled with a high pressure air, while the valve chamber 220 may be venting its air down the barrel 114, and therefore, a new pressure gradient created, may cause the recoil effect. Further, the recoil effect may compress the recoil piston return spring 218 and thereby may make the valve chamber 220 reduce to minimal volume while the piston chamber 226 may be at maximal volume. Lastly, due to a plurality of small sized bleed holes, the piston chamber 226 may quickly return to the atmospheric pressure, while the recoil piston return spring 218, may force a bolt 228 back to a rear of the bolt carrier unit 122, expanding the size of the valve chamber 220 again, and pushing a valve pin 222 back into position so that when air pressure is again supplied it may fill the valve chamber 220.
[0054] In one embodiment, when the piston head 216 is actuated, the valve pin 222 may be pushed forward by the firing pin 212. It can be noted that the area between the retainer 214 and the piston head 216 may be referred to as the piston chamber 226. Further, the recoil piston return spring 218 may be disposed within the piston chamber 226. The piston chamber 226 may be integrated at the second end of the bolt carrier unit 122. The second end of the bolt carrier unit 122 may be the rear end of the bolt carrier unit 122. In one embodiment, when the trigger 108 is actuated, a check valve (not shown) integrated on a side air passage of the bolt carrier unit 122 may be opened and may draw compressed air into the bolt carrier unit 122. Further, the check valve may be open while the bolt carrier unit 122 may be in a resting forward position, allowing air pressure to be normalized between the air gun 100 and bolt carrier unit 122. Further, the check valve may only close up, when the bolt carrier unit 122 moves into a position as there may be no longer compressed air upstream of the check valve, at which point the check valve may prevent the compressed air inside the bolt carrier unit 122 from venting. It can be noted that the bolt carrier unit 122 allows compressed air, from the recoil guide tube 204, to travel into the valve chamber 220. The compressed air may be expanded and may allow ejecting projectiles down the barrel 114 and out of the air gun 100. It can be noted that the check valve may also prevent a back flow of compressed air out of the bolt carrier unit 122 into the atmosphere. In one embodiment, the recoil piston return spring 218 may be a low-energy recoil piston return spring 218. Such a use of the low-energy recoil piston return spring 218 may reduce the chances of damage of the projectile by the recoil piston return spring 218. Further, the low-energy recoil piston return spring 218 may reduce to a round being loaded by the bolt into the barrel 114. In another embodiment, the recoil piston return spring 218 may be a high-energy spring, causing the bolt 228 to smash the rounds. In another embodiment, the recoil piston return spring 218 may be a combination of a low-energy spring and a high-energy spring.
[0055] In one embodiment, the piston head 216 may be coupled to the valve pin 222. It can be noted that the valve pin 222 is positioned inside the piston 224 of the bolt carrier unit 122. In an embodiment, the piston head 216 may be coupled to the piston 224 at the first end, and the valve pin 222 may be coupled with the piston head 216 at the second end of the piston 224. The piston 224 may be disposed at a first end of the bolt carrier unit 122. Further, the valve pin 222 may be also referred to as a cup seal. The valve pin 222 may be coupled with the piston head 216, at the second end of the piston 224. Further, the valve pin 222 may be wrapped around with a valve pin spring 230, as shown in
[0056] In one embodiment, the recoil guide tube 204 may be coupled with the recoil unit 120 at a recoil tube carrier 234. The recoil guide tube 204 may be attached to the recoil tube carrier 234 at a first end of the recoil guide tube 204. The first end of the recoil guide tube 204 may be a front end of the recoil guide tube 204. It can be noted the recoil tube carrier 234 may be referred to as an upper tube. The recoil tube carrier 234 may also be referred to as a recoil assembly compartment. The compressed air may pass through the recoil gas unit 120 into the valve chamber 220 via the piston head 216 of the bolt carrier unit 122. Further, the recoil piston return spring 218 may be loaded over the piston 224. In one embodiment, the piston chamber 226 may be integrated within the second end of the bolt carrier unit 122, between the cap 236 and the piston 224. Further, the valve chamber 220 may facilitate the movement of the piston 224 and may be configured to receive the compressed air for performing the firing stroke of the air gun 100.
[0057] In one embodiment, the compressed air from the recoil tube carrier 234 may travel into the piston 224. Further, the piston 224 may be provided with a plurality of holes around its circumference, which allow the valve pin 222 to fire the projectile down the barrel 114. In another embodiment an annular cup seal may be provided on the valve pin 222 and the valve pin 222 may be held rightly against a forward surface of the piston 224 and when pushed forward the annular cup seal may break allowing the compressed air to escape through a cap and around the cup seal. Further, a recoil action of the air gun 100 may cause the valve pin 222 to move forward and compress the valve pin spring 230 and allow the air which inside the piston 224, to expel out from the air gun 100. It can be noted that during the recoil stroke, the shut-off valve 208 may prevent any air to expel out of the recoil tube carrier 234. Further, the piston 224 may be coupled with the cap 236. It can be noted that the cap 236 may restrict the flow of air from the piston 224. In one embodiment, the cap 236 may comprise a plurality of bleed holes integrated on the cap 236 to vent the restricted flow of air quickly after the recoil stroke. In an embodiment, the cap 236 may be referred as a back cap or front end cap of the bolt carrier unit 122.
[0058] In an embodiment, a ball check valve 238 may be integrated on a side air passage of the bolt carrier unit 122. It can be noted that the ball check valve 238 may prevent the compressed air from venting out or flowing back out of the bolt carrier unit 122, through the recoil tube carrier 234, when the bolt carrier unit 122 is in recoiling position. It can be noted that the ball check valve 238 may be referred to as a check valve. In an embodiment, the ball check valve 238 may be configured to prevent the compressed air from venting out of the valve chamber 220 and the piston chamber 226. In an exemplary embodiment, when the bolt carrier unit 122 moves so that the recoil guide tube 204 is not engaged and sealed inside the recoil tube carrier 234, the ball check valve 238 prevents the air from venting out of the valve chamber 220. In another embodiment, the ball check valve 238 may be configured to retain the compressed air within the valve chamber 220, when the bolt carrier unit 122 may be disassembled from the air gun 100. It can be noted that the ball check valve 238 may also prevent a back flow of compressed air out of the bolt carrier unit 122 into the atmosphere.
[0059] In one embodiment, during a firing operation of the air gun 100, the trigger 108 is actuated by an operator of the air gun 100. Further, the actuation of the trigger 108 may allow the regulator 202 to expel the compressed air (also known as an air charge), from the external air supply, into the barrel 114. The expelling air forces the projectile to run down the barrel 114 and launch the projectile at a desired speed from the muzzle of the barrel 114. In another embodiment, the air gun 100 after being fired may have a recoil stroke. It can be noted that when an initial air charge, while the firing operation, is directed into the barrel 114, an amount of compressed air may be sent to the piston 224. The compressed air may result in creating a recoil force in the bolt carrier unit 122. The recoil force may move the bolt carrier unit 122, in the backward direction. Further, the recoil stroke may recharge the hammer 210. In yet another embodiment, after the recoil stroke of the air gun 100, the recoil piston return spring 218 may push bolt carrier unit 122 to the resting position, as shown in
[0060]
[0061] In one embodiment, during the recoil, the backward movement of the bolt carrier unit 122 may cock or actuate the hammer 210. Further, due to the recoil, the gap between the rear end of the bolt carrier unit 122 and the back end of the air gun 100 may be reduced. It can be noted that under tension, the recoil assembly spring 206 may push the bolt carrier unit 122 forward for firing the next round of projectile. Further, the bolt carrier unit 122 may be configured to have a controlled motion of moving back and forth during the recoil stroke and the return stroke of the air gun 100. Further, the bolt carrier unit 122 may be configured to move along the length of the recoil guide tube 204. The bolt carrier unit 122 may return to rest or ready to fire position by the expansion or decompression of the recoil assembly spring 206. It can be noted that once the projectile is fired from the air gun 100, the air charge may be directed to the piston chamber 226, during the recoil stroke. Further, the air charge may create a recoil force in the bolt carrier unit 122 and allow the bolt carrier unit 122 to move backward. This action may also re-charge or cock the hammer 210. In one embodiment, the air gun 100 may be a referred to as a closed bolt gun, as the air gun 100 is loaded and ready to fire, before the operator pulls the trigger 108. In one embodiment, during the backward movement of the bolt carrier unit 122 or the complete recoiling action, the bolt 228 may also move rearwards, and by action of that, a new projectile is loaded into the barrel 114 in-front of the bolt 228.
[0062]
[0063] In one embodiment, the bolt carrier unit 122 of the air gun 100 may include the piston 224 and the cap 236. Further, the cap 236 may be provided with the firing pin 212 and the retainer 214, which holds the firing pin 212 intact. In one embodiment, the cap 236 may enclose a plurality of detents or locking surfaces, which provide additional support to the bolt carrier unit 122. In one embodiment, the cap 236 of the bolt carrier unit 122 may be coupled with an O-ring to seal the piston chamber 226 from the ambient atmosphere.
[0064] In an embodiment, during the return stroke of the air gun 100, the recoil assembly spring 206 may act to push the bolt carrier unit 122 forward to its resting or resetting position. During this, any number of mechanisms or magazines may be used to feed a projectile into the path of the bolt carrier unit 122 for it to be loaded into the chamber of the air gun 100. During the return stroke, the hammer 210 or striker system may be fully reset into a ready-to-fire position. In one embodiment, the hammer 210 may be activated at the end of the stroke when the system may be configured for full-automatic function. Such use of the air gun mechanism may provide a continuous operation of the air gun 100, without any manual intervention required by the operator. In one embodiment, the air gun 100 may resemble the operation of an operational firearm, such as the AK-47 gun.
[0065]
[0066] The recoil gas unit 120 may further comprise the on/off shuttle valve 310 coupled at the first end of the recoil guide tube 204. Further, the on/off shuttle valve 310 may be provided with a plurality of O-rings 312 to seal the recoil guide tube 204 and the on/off shuttle valve 310 with the recoil tube carrier 234. Further, the on/off shuttle valve 310 may be a sleeve fitted around the recoil guide tube 204. In one embodiment, when the on/off shuttle valve 310 may be pushed forward within the recoil tube carrier 234, the compressed air may be released. In one embodiment, the recoil tube carrier 234 may be an elongated tube with a first plurality of holes integrated at a first side of the recoil tube carrier 234. In another embodiment, the on/off shuttle valve 310 may be provided with a second plurality of holes 314. Further, during the forward movement of the on/off shuttle valve 310 inside the recoil tube carrier 234, the second plurality of holes 314 may be aligned with the first plurality of holes of the recoil tube carrier 234, in order to release the compressed air into the atmosphere. In one embodiment, the second end of the recoil guide tube 204 may be coupled to the recoil base 304 and the first end of the recoil guide tube 204 may be coupled to the recoil tube carrier 234.
[0067] As shown in
[0068] As shown in
[0069]
[0070] As shown in
[0071] In one embodiment, the first plurality of grooves 410 of the valve pin 222 may be referred as vent grooves. Further, the first plurality of grooves 410 may be used for venting the compressed air stored within valve chamber 220 towards the projectile via the bolt 228. Further, the first plurality of grooves 410 may also prevent the extrusion of second pin seal 406.
[0072] As shown in
[0073]
[0074] As shown in
[0075] In one embodiment, the plurality of incoming air passages 504 may have different diameters according to a size of the piston head 216. In one exemplary embodiment, the diameter of the plurality of incoming air passages 504 may be in a range of between 0.2 millimeters (mm) to 0.8 mm. It can be noted that the first incoming air passage and the second incoming air passage may be integrated to maximize volume and strength of the valve chamber 220 during and after the firing stroke. In one embodiment, the plurality of air passages 504 inside the piston head 216 and the valve chamber 220 may reduce application of conventional tools during assembling and disassembling of the air gun 100.
[0076]
[0077] As shown in
[0078] As shown in
[0079] As shown in
[0080] As shown in
[0081] In one embodiment, the plurality of incoming air passages 504 may be referred as vent holes. In another embodiment, the plurality of incoming air passages 504 may be referred as radial holes of the piston head 216, configured to supply incoming compressed air flow towards the valve chamber 220 and the piston chamber 226. In one embodiment, the high pressure compressed air of the valve chamber 220, which may be stored between the piston body 402 and a forward wall of the bolt carrier unit 122, may resist the bolt carrier unit 122, from moving during an initial stage of firing. In one embodiment, the high pressure air releasing from the valve chamber 220 may begin to accelerate the projectile which may move past to a rubber dent 608 of the barrel 114 and may engage with a plurality of barrel bores 610 of the barrel 114.
[0082]
[0083] As shown in
[0084] As shown in
[0085] As shown in
[0086]
[0087] During, the rearward movement of the bolt carrier unit 122 against the recoil assembly spring 206, the hammer 210 may be fully cocked and may be retained by the disconnector 606. In one embodiment, the housing 102 may further comprise an auto sear 806, which may be fixed over a pivot. Further, the auto sear 806 may be held forward by a base of hammer 210 and may be configured to drop into a notch of the hammer 210, after the hammer 210 may be fully retained by the disconnector 606. In one embodiment, the cap 236 (or may be referred as back end of the bolt carrier unit 122) may be provided with a plurality of bleed holes 808. Further, the plurality of bleed holes 808 may be configured to vent out the compressed air inside the piston chamber 226 and consequently, pressure inside the piston chamber 226 begins to drop.
[0088] As shown in
[0089]
[0090] As shown in
[0091] As shown in
[0092]
[0093]
[0094] The overall operation of the air gun 100 as herein described may be heavily derived from the commonly understood mechanisms of most modern firearms. The intent of the present invention may be to replicate the action of such firearms through the use of a compressed air supply instead of controlled explosions.
[0095] Another aspect of the present air gun 100 may be the actuation of the trigger or striker assemblies that may follow various implementations. Further, it may depend upon the specific firearms as may be the specific layout and external shape of the bolt carrier assembly and the recoil assemblies in order for the overall fit and form to match a specific firearm. An additional application area of the air gun 100 may be for military/law enforcement use, self-defense purposes, for training tools, for recreational purposes (target shooting, sport of airsoft, NERF, etc.) or for other types of activities that may include the use of similar type of air guns. Another additional application area of the air gun 100 may be to omit the firing of a projectile and use the air gun 100 for its effect of recoil and for the loud sound of firing. Such an application area may require more air pressure to increase the recoil power without the concern for projectile velocity or efficiency.
[0096] While there is shown and described herein certain specific structures illustrating various embodiments of the invention, it will be manifest to those skilled in the art that various modifications and rearrangements of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the underlying inventive concept and that the same is not limited to the particular forms herein shown and described except insofar as indicated by the scope of the appended claims.
LIST OF ELEMENTS
[0097] 100 Air Gun [0098] 102 Housing [0099] 104 Cover [0100] 106 Magazine [0101] 108 Trigger [0102] 110 Air inlet swivel [0103] 112 Handle [0104] 114 Barrel [0105] 116 Buttstock [0106] 118 Handguard [0107] 120 Recoil gas unit [0108] 122 Bolt Carrier Unit [0109] 124 Magazine Release Lever [0110] 126 Inner Structure [0111] 128 Outer Structure [0112] 200A Sectional View of Air Gun in Partial Recoil Position [0113] 200B Sectional View of Air Gun in Full Recoil Position [0114] 200C Sectional View of Air Gun in Rest or Forward or Ready to Fire Position [0115] 202 Regulator [0116] 204 Recoil Guide Tube [0117] 206 Recoil Assembly Spring [0118] 208 Shut-Off Valve [0119] 210 Hammer [0120] 212 Firing Pin [0121] 214 Retainer [0122] 216 Piston Head [0123] 218 Recoil Piston Return Spring [0124] 220 Valve Chamber [0125] 222 Valve Pin [0126] 224 Piston [0127] 226 Piston Chamber [0128] 228 Bolt [0129] 230 Valve Pin Spring [0130] 232 Bolt Flange [0131] 234 Recoil Tube Carrier [0132] 236 Cap [0133] 238 Ball Check Valve [0134] 302 Plug Screw [0135] 304 Recoil Base [0136] 306 Air Channel [0137] 308 Extended Hook [0138] 310 On/Off Shuttle Valve [0139] 312 Plurality of O-rings [0140] 314 Second Plurality of holes [0141] 316 Air Tube [0142] 318 Air Reservoir [0143] 320 Recoil Guide Assembly [0144] 322 Conical Section [0145] 324 Tapered Mating Surface [0146] 326 Shuttle Retainer Cap [0147] 402 Piston Body [0148] 404 First Pin Seal [0149] 406 Second Pin Seal [0150] 408 Third Pin Seal [0151] 410 First Plurality of Grooves [0152] 412 Valve Pin Sealing Surface [0153] 414 O-ring Gland [0154] 416 Forward Pin Seal O-ring [0155] 418 Second Plurality of Grooves [0156] 502 Cup Seal [0157] 504 Plurality of incoming Air passages [0158] 602 Hook of the Trigger [0159] 604 Safety Selector [0160] 606 Disconnector [0161] 608 Rubber Dent [0162] 610 Plurality of Barrel Bores [0163] 802 Barrel Feed Port [0164] 804 New projectile [0165] 806 Auto Sear [0166] 808 Plurality of Bleed Holes [0167] 1002 Arm