Pneumatic launching apparatus employing barrel cam driving pathways and methods

Abstract

Launcher apparatus and methods of a toy projectile blaster piston air compression element and breech bolt operating through a barrel cam peripheral surface with a cylinder cam pathway track and piston cam pathways for driving contact and respective piston and cylinder timings. The barrel cam is rotatably disposed. Piston and cylinder follower ends contact the barrel cam pathways generating fluid communication to outwardly launch received projectile rounds. The breech can receive projectiles with the breech bolt of the air compression element extending into the breech to position a received projectile through the barrel seal, and a source of rotary motion or forward strokes and back strokes fires the projectiles.

Claims

1. A toy launching apparatus, comprising: a firing mechanism housing; a projectile launching barrel; an air compression element comprising a cylinder and an elongated breech bolt, with the cylinder having a cylinder tracking end, the breech bolt having a proximal end at the cylinder and a breech bolt channel extending therethrough for fluid communication from the cylinder through the breech bolt for expelling compressed air from a distal end of the breech bolt, a breech spring being connected to and extending with the air compression element; a piston slidably received at the cylinder of the air compression element, with the piston having a piston tracking end; a barrel cam assembly with at least one rotatably disposed peripheral surface with a cylinder cam pathway track and piston cam pathway track, the piston tracking end at the piston cam pathway track, and the cylinder tracking end at the cylinder cam pathway track; a breech at the firing mechanism housing including at least one barrel seal aligned with the projectile launching barrel, the breech being capable of receiving one or more projectiles with the breech bolt of the air compression element capable of extending into the breech to position a received projectile through the barrel seal; and a mechanism for turning the barrel cam assembly.

2. The toy launching apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mechanism for turning the barrel cam assembly comprises a user operable handle.

3. The toy launching apparatus of claim 2, wherein the mechanism for turning further comprises converting linear motion in two directions into rotary motion in one direction, where the handle is used to fire projectiles during forward strokes and back strokes to rotate the barrel cam assembly upon translating the handle between fully advanced and retracted, the cylinder tracking end tracking the cylinder cam actuated by the rotation of the barrel cam for withdrawing the breech bolt of the air compression element from the breech.

4. The toy launching apparatus of claim 2, wherein the mechanism for turning further comprises a motor for imparting rotary motion in one direction, where the handle is a trigger switch to activate the motor to fire projectiles.

5. The toy launching apparatus of claim 1, comprising a hopper at the breech for feeding one or more projectiles received into the breech by gravity.

6. The toy launching apparatus of claim 1, comprising a cylinder follower at the cylinder tracking end, a piston follower at the piston tracking end, and a piston spring for priming compression with the piston follower at the piston tracking end actuated by the rotation of the barrel cam assembly.

7. The toy launching apparatus of claim 6, wherein the breech spring is connected to the air compression element whereupon further translating the handle releases the breech spring for extending the breech bolt into the breech.

8. The toy launching apparatus of claim 7, wherein further translating the handle releasing the piston spring for advancing the piston into the cylinder of the air compression element in the breech, causing compressed air to expel through the breech bolt channel extending through the breech bolt for expelling compressed air from the distal end of the breech bolt, and outwardly launch the one or more projectiles through the barrel seal and the projectile launching barrel.

9. A toy launching apparatus, comprising: a firing mechanism housing; a projectile launching barrel; an air compression element comprising a cylinder and an elongated breech bolt, the breech bolt having a proximal end at the cylinder and a breech bolt channel extending therethrough for fluid communication from the cylinder through the breech bolt for expelling compressed air from a distal end of the breech bolt; a breech spring connected between the air compression element and the firing mechanism housing; a piston slidably received at the cylinder of the air compression element, with a piston spring connected between a piston tracking end piston follower and the firing mechanism; a barrel cam defining a cylinder pathway track and piston pathway track, the piston tracking end at the piston cam pathway track, the piston spring biased to extend with the piston cam pathway track movement imparted to the piston; a cylinder tracking end at the cylinder cam pathway track, the breech spring biased to extend with the cylinder cam pathway track movement imparted to the cylinder and the elongated breech bolt of the air compression element; and a breech at the firing mechanism housing including at least one barrel seal aligned with the projectile launching barrel, the breech being capable of receiving one or more projectiles with the breech bolt of the air compression element capable of extending into the breech to position a received projectile through the barrel seal.

10. The toy launching apparatus of claim 9, comprising a hopper at the breech for receiving one or more projectiles by gravity for feeding into the breech.

11. The toy launching apparatus of claim 10, wherein the breech spring releases the breech spring for extending the breech bolt into the breech with the cylinder cam pathway track movement imparted to the cylinder and the elongated breech bolt of the air compression element.

12. The toy launching apparatus of claim 11, wherein the piston spring at the piston is biased for compression by the piston follower contacting the piston cam follower pathway actuated by the rotation of the barrel cam.

13. The toy launching apparatus of claim 12, comprising a breech spring at cylinder follower contacting the cylinder cam follower pathway actuated by the rotation of the barrel cam for withdrawing the breech bolt of the air compression element from the breech of the pre-firing area.

14. The toy launching apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a handle where pulling of the handle releases the breech spring for extending the breech bolt of the air compression element into the breech.

15. The toy launching apparatus of claim 14, comprising a mechanism for turning the barrel cam with a motor, wherein the handle is a trigger switch to activate the motor to fire projectiles and pulling thereof releases the piston spring for advancing the piston into the cylinder of the air compression element in the breech.

16. The toy launching apparatus of claim 14, wherein the handle releases the piston spring for advancing the piston into the cylinder of the air compression element in the breech causing compressed air to expel through the breech bolt channel extending through the breech bolt for expelling compressed air from the distal end of the breech bolt, and outwardly launch one or more projectiles through the projectile launching barrel.

17. A toy launching method, comprising the steps of: providing a receptacle for receiving multiple projectile rounds for launching with a firing mechanism housing through a projectile launching barrel; an air compression step using a cylinder having a cylinder tracking end, and an elongated breech bolt having a channel extending therethrough for fluid communication from the cylinder through the breech bolt for expelling compressed air; receiving a piston slidably in the cylinder of the air compression element, with the piston having a piston tracking end; and rotating a barrel cam defining a cylinder cam pathway track and piston cam pathway track, the piston tracking end at the piston cam pathway track, and the cylinder tracking end at the cylinder cam pathway track.

18. The toy launching method of claim 17, further comprising: defining a barrier and hopper area inside the receptacle, allowing for a user to agitate one or more received multiple projectile rounds beyond the barrier and into the hopper area with at least one of the received projectiles being aligned therein by gravity; connecting a breech spring to the firing mechanism housing, the breech spring biased to extend with the cylinder and the elongated breech bolt; and defining a breech at the firing mechanism housing including at least one barrel seal aligned with the projectile launching barrel, positioning the at least one of the received projectiles with the elongated breech bolt extending into the pre-firing area at the least one barrel seal.

19. The toy launching method of claim 18, providing a turning mechanism for converting linear motion in two directions into rotary motion in one direction, with a handle used to fire projectiles during forward strokes and back strokes to rotate the barrel cam upon translating the handle between fully advanced and retracted, the cylinder tracking end tracking the cylinder cam actuated by the rotation of the barrel cam.

20. The toy launching method of claim 18, providing a motorized turning mechanism for imparting rotary motion, with a trigger switch to activate the motor to rotate the barrel cam, the cylinder tracking end tracking the cylinder cam actuated by the rotation of the barrel cam to fire projectiles.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) For the purpose of facilitating an understanding of the invention, the accompanying drawings and detailed description illustrate preferred embodiments thereof, from which the invention, its structures, its construction and operation, its processes, and many related advantages may be readily understood and appreciated.

(2) FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an assembled pneumatic launching toy projectile blaster embodiment with a projectile rounds hopper employing a user operated handle mechanism to fire projectile in accordance with the present invention in the form of blasters.

(3) FIGS. 2 and 3 are a half-plane views of the blaster embodiment showing an internal firing mechanism subassembly with FIGS. 4, 5, 6, and 7 showing exploded views of the firing mechanism enabling toy projectile rounds to enter the pre-firing area, with pneumatic launching functions performed by an air compression element and piston.

(4) FIG. 8 illustrates an enlarged view of the breech, breech bolt, and breech bolt seal of the fluid communication channel.

(5) FIGS. 9 through 19 in sequence show the blaster embodiment in side-elevation firing mechanism sectional views with respective cylinder and piston cam pathway tracking/cam follower linkages advancing air compression element, cylinder and an elongated breech bolt, with the cylinder having a cylinder tracking end, the breech bolt having a proximal end at the cylinder and a breech bolt channel extending therethrough for fluid communication from the cylinder through the breech bolt for expelling compressed air from a distal end of the breech bolt, a breech spring being connected to and extending with the air compression element functionally operating to outwardly launch the one or more projectiles through the barrel seal and the projectile launching barrel.

(6) FIGS. 20 and 21 show partial isometric views of a further alternative embodiment with three barrels instead of a single barrel by adding two additional assemblies to contain three separate piston and cylinder followers around a central cylinder cams and piston cams, the three sets of followers moving 120 degrees out of sync with each other illustrating the cam pathway tracks/cam follower linkages functionally attached in accordance with the present inventions.

(7) FIG. 22 illustrates angle offsets of the respective cylinder cam follower pathway, and the piston cam follower pathway use of the blaster firing mechanism in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

(8) The following description is provided to enable those skilled in the art to make and use the described embodiments set forth in the best mode contemplated for carrying out the invention. Various modifications, equivalents, variations, and alternatives, however, will remain readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Any and all such modifications, variations, equivalents, and alternatives are intended to fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

(9) FIG. 1 shows the outside of blaster 10 fully assembled. The blaster 10 has a hopper 14 that stores projectile rounds and a handle 16 that is operated by the user to fire projectile rounds.

(10) FIG. 2 shows a half-plane view of blaster 10 fully assembled. The firing mechanism first uses a system of gears to convert the linear motion of the handle 16 in either direction into clockwise rotary motion facing proximal of the barrel cam 34n. This motion conversion allows both back and forward strokes to fire projectile rounds using the same system of cams and followers. The barrel cam peripheral surface with a cylinder cam pathway track and piston cam pathways for driving contact and respective piston and cylinder timings. The barrel cam is rotatably disposed. Piston and cylinder follower ends contact the barrel cam pathways generating fluid communication to outwardly launch received projectile rounds. The breech can receive projectiles with the breech bolt of the air compression element extending into the breech to position a received projectile through the barrel seal, and a source of rotary motion or forward strokes and back strokes fires the projectiles.

(11) The barrel cam 34n contains the cylinder cam 30d, and piston cam 32d. These cams are tracked by their respective cylinder follower 30f and piston follower 32f. The air compression element 34h is comprised of the cylinder follower 30f and the breech bolt 34f. The cylinder cam and follower are responsible for advancing and retracting the breech bolt 34f into and from the breech 34i. The breech bolt 34f must advance into the breech 34i to fire projectile rounds but must be retracted for projectile rounds to enter the breech 34i. The piston cam and follower are responsible for pneumatically firing the projectile rounds. The cams are responsible for timing the motion of the breech bolt 34f and firing the projectile round within the breech 34i.

(12) Just prior to firing, the breech bolt 34f advances into breech 34i. This advancement prevents any further projectile rounds 38 from entering breech 34i and moves the projectile rounds through the breech bolt seal 34a. During firing, the piston follower 32e is quickly received by the cylinder follower 30e. When this occurs, pressure greatly increases within the air compression element 34h, and air is quickly expelled through the fluid communication channel 34j. The projectile round is pneumatically expelled through the barrel 34k. After firing, the air compression element 34h and piston follower 32e retract. The retraction of the air compression element 34h causes the breech bolt 34f to retract from the breech 34i. Therefore, projectile rounds may enter the breech 34i. The firing cycle may repeat.

(13) FIGS. 2 and 3 are a half-plane views of the blaster embodiment showing an internal firing mechanism subassembly with FIGS. 4 through 7 showing exploded views of the firing mechanism enabling toy projectile rounds to enter the pre-firing area. Pneumatic launching functions are performed by the air compression element and piston for discharging plural projectile rounds using barrel cam pathways for driving contact and respective piston and cylinder timings through piston and cylinder followers in contact for tracking through the barrel cam pathways.

(14) FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of blaster 10 with the firing mechanism 18 unexploded. The firing mechanism 18 is housed by the left firing mechanism structural 12a and the right firing mechanism structural housing 12b. The firing mechanism 18 fires the projectile rounds 38 through the barrel 34k.

(15) FIG. 4 shows a partially exploded view of the firing mechanism 18. The followers are constrained to translate longitudinally by the firing mechanism housing. The cylinder follower 30e has cylinder follower tab 30j that is constrained by the cylinder follower left indent 30k and the cylinder follower right indent 30l. Likewise, the piston follower 32e has piston follower tab 32j that is constrained by the piston follower left indent 32k and the piston follower right indent 32l Additionally, the end cap shaft coupling 32h is constrained by the left end cap indent 34l and the right end cap indent 34m to only rotate.

(16) FIG. 5 shows the components of the firing mechanism 18 that converts linear motion of the handle 16 in either direction to rotary motion in a single direction. Both forward and back strokes will result in the clockwise rotation of the cams facing proximal. The mechanism contains gears and rachets whose direction of rotation, or lack of rotation, depends on the direction of motion of the handle 16. The dashed arrows show the direction of motion of the gears and rachets during forward strokes. Likewise, the solid arrows show the direction of motion of the gears and rackets during back strokes.

(17) The rack 20i contained within or driven by the handle 16 engages the small pinion gear 20a. The small pinion gear 20a and large pinion gear 20b form the first pinion gear 20c integral component. The large pinion gear 20b engages the third pinion gear 20d which in turn engages the middle transfer gear 20e. These gears form a transmission that turn linear motion of the handle 16 to rotary motion of the middle transfer gear 20e in both directions. The middle transfer gear 20e will turn counterclockwise facing left if the handle goes through a forward stroke and clockwise facing left if the handle goes through a back stroke.

(18) The remaining components shown in FIG. 5 convert rotary motion in either direction to rotary motion in one direction. There are components to the left and right of the middle transfer gear 20e. The left side converts clockwise rotation facing left of the middle transfer gear 20e into clockwise rotation facing proximal of the middle crown gear 20f. The right side converts counterclockwise rotation facing left of the middle transfer gear 20e into clockwise rotation facing proximal of the middle crown gear 20f. Hence, if the middle transfer gear 20e rotates in either direction, the middle crown gear 20f rotates clockwise facing proximal.

(19) The middle crown gear 20e engages the left gear coupling 24a and the right gear coupling 22a. The gear couplings have posts which engage their respective left racket 24e and right racket 22e. The rackets sometimes engage their respective left internal gear ring 24c and right internal gear ring 22c depending on the direction of rotation of the rackets. If the left racket 24e rotates clockwise facing left, the left racket 24e will engage the left internal ring gear 24c. Hence, the left internal ring gear 24c will also rotate clockwise facing left. If the left racket 24e rotates counterclockwise facing left, the left racket 24e will not engage the left internal gear 24c. Likewise, if the right racket 22e rotates counterclockwise facing left, the right racket 22e will engage the right internal ring gear 22c. Hence, the right internal ring gear 22c will also rotate counterclockwise. If the right racket 22e rotates clockwise facing left, the right racket 22e will not engage the right internal gear 22c.

(20) It is noted, e.g., that the left internal ring gear 24c and the left crown gear 24b form the left crown gear integral component 24d. Likewise, the right internal ring gear 22c the right crown gear 22b form the right crown gear integral component 22d. Both crown gears engage with the middle crown gear 20f. If the left internal ring gear 24c is engaged, and therefore rotating clockwise facing left, then the middle crown gear 20f will rotate clockwise facing proximal. If the right internal ring gear 22c is engaged, and therefore rotating counterclockwise facing left, then the middle crown gear 20f will also rotate clockwise facing proximally. At no point are both rachets engaged as they engage in different directions of rotation. Therefore, regardless of the rotation of the middle transfer gear 20e, the middle crown gear 20f will always rotate clockwise facing proximal. Hence, the middle crown gear 20f will rotate clockwise facing proximal during forward and back strokes.

(21) FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 show the cam follower part of the firing mechanism 18. The air compression element 34h is compromised of the cylinder follower 30e and the breech bolt 34f. The fluid communication channel 34j allows for fluid communication between the inside of the cylinder follower 30e and the distal end of the breech bolt 34f. In other words, the fluid communication channel 34j allows air to flow from the inside of the cylinder follower 30e through the distal end of the breech bolt 34f. The breech 34i slidably receives the breech bolt 34f.

(22) To fire projectile rounds 38 the breech bolt 34f must advance into the breech 34i. However, for projectile rounds to enter the breech 34i, the breech bolt breech bolt 34f must be retracted from the breech 34i. Additionally, the breech bolt 34f pushes projectile rounds in the breech 34i through the breech bolt seal 34a.

(23) The cylinder follower 30e slidably receives the piston follower 32e. If the cylinder follower 30e quickly slidably receives by the piston follower 32e then the pressure within the air compression element 34h will greatly increase. Fluid will expel through the distal end of the breech bolt 34f and the projectile round will be fired.

(24) The cylinder cam 30d and piston cam 32d control the longitudinal position of the cylinder follower 30e and piston follower 30e. As previously mentioned, the followers are constrained to move longitudinally by the structural housing. The cams rotate along the longitudinal axis. Both cams have cam follower pathways; the cylinder cam 30d has a cylinder cam follower pathway 30b and a piston cam 32d has a piston follower pathway 32b. Both followers have a tracking end which tracks the cam follower pathways of their respective cams. The cylinder follower 30e has a cylinder follower tracking end 30f which tracks the cylinder cam follower pathway 30b. Likewise, the piston follower 32e has a piston follower tracking end 32f which tracks the piston cam follower pathway 32b.

(25) Both the cylinder follower 30e and the piston follower 32e have a biasing force applied by the air compression element spring 30g and the piston spring 32g. Both springs connect to their respective followers and the structural housing. The piston spring post 34e ensures that the piston spring 32g is aligned.

(26) The angle of the middle crown gear 20f controls the angle of the barrel cam 30d and the piston cam 32d. The cylinder cam 30d controls the longitudinal position of the cylinder follower 30e, which in turn determines whether the breech bolt 34f extends into the breech 34i. The piston cam 30d controls the longitudinal position of the piston follower 30e, which in turn controls when the projectile round is fired. Therefore, if the cylinder cam follower pathway 30b is offset from the piston cam follower pathway 32b, the breech bolt 34f will advance into the breech 34i at a different time than when the projectile round is fired.

(27) The middle crown gear 20f drives both the cylinder cam 30d and piston cam 32d. The middle crown gear 20f and crown gear shaft coupling 20g are part of the same middle crown gear integral component 20h. The crown gear shaft coupling 20g couples with the distal cylinder shaft coupling 30a. The distal cylinder shaft coupling 30a and proximal cylinder shaft coupling 30c are part of the cylinder cam 30d integral component. The proximal cylinder shaft coupling 30c couples with the intermediate shaft coupling 30h. The intermediate shaft coupling 30h couples with the distal piston shaft coupling 32a. The distal piston cam shaft coupling 32a and proximal piston cam shaft coupling 32c are part of the piston cam 32d integral component. The distal piston shaft coupling 32c couples with the end cap shaft coupling 32h. As previously mentioned, the end cap shaft coupling 32h is received by the structural housing, but is free to rotate with respect to the structural housing.

(28) Additionally, the cylinder washer 30i is between the proximal cylinder shaft coupling 30c and intermediate shaft coupling 30h. The piston washer 32i is between the distal piston cam shaft coupling 32c and the end cap shaft coupling 32h. The central support shaft 34g constrains and supports the middle crown gear integral component 20h.

(29) Also, air compression O-ring 34c is a seal that prevents air from flowing around the piston follower 32e when the piston follower 32e is received by the air compression element 34h. The air compression sleeve 34d stabilizes the air compression element 34h due to downward air flow around the piston follower 32e during firing. The air compression sleeve 34b directions air into the breech 34i during firing.

(30) FIG. 8 shows an enlarged view of the breech 34i, breech bolt 34f, the breech bolt seal 34a and the fluid communication channel 34j close in. The breech bolt 34f extends into breech 34i, but not through the breech bolt seal 34a. If there is a projectile round in the breech 34i and the breech bolt 34f advances, then the breech bolt 34f will push the projectile rounds 38 through the breech bolt seal 34a. The fluid communication channel 34j allows for fluid communication between the inside of the cylinder follower 30e and the distal end of the breech bolt 34f.

(31) FIG. 9, et seq. show the blaster 10 firing through a back and forward stroke. The projectile rounds 38 are stored in hopper 14. These FIGS. 9 through 19 in sequence show the blaster embodiment in side-elevation firing mechanism sectional views with respective cylinder and piston cam pathway tracking/cam follower linkages advancing air compression element, cylinder and an elongated breech bolt, with the cylinder having a cylinder tracking end, the breech bolt having a proximal end at the cylinder and a breech bolt channel extending therethrough for fluid communication from the cylinder through the breech bolt for expelling compressed air from a distal end of the breech bolt, a breech spring being connected to and extending with the air compression element functionally operating to outwardly launch the one or more projectiles through the barrel seal and the projectile launching barrel. The generic rotary mechanism 36 converts the linear motion of the handle 16 in either direction to rotary motion in the clockwise direction facing proximal. FIG. 5 shows the generic rotary mechanism used in the embodiments. However, for the purposes of FIGS. 9 through 16, any source of rotary motion as such a motor can replace the generic rotary mechanism 36.

(32) FIG. 9 shows the handle 16 fully advanced. The breech bolt 34f extends into the breech 34i. Therefore, no projectile rounds 38 may enter the breech 34i. FIG. 10, FIG. 11, FIG. 12, FIG. 13 and FIG. 14 show the handle 16 being retracted in a backstroke. First, the breech bolt 34f retracts from the breech 34i. By FIG. 14 the projectile rounds 38 may now enter breech 34i. In FIG. 15, the handle 16 retracts further and the breech bolt 34f extends into the breech 34i. In FIG. 16, the handle 16 retracts even further and the cylinder follower 30e quickly receives the piston follower 32e, which pneumatically fires the projectile round.

(33) FIG. 17 shows the beginning of the forward stroke. Since the cams rotate in a single direction regardless of the direction of the handle, the same steps of firing may be repeated for the forward stroke. The firing cycle may repeat, or single cycle may be used. Since the handle 16 advances, the breech bolt 34f retracts from the breech 34i. A projectile round enters the breech 34i. FIG. 18 shows the handle 16 advancing further. The breech bolt 34f advances into the breech 34i. In FIG. 19, the handle 16 advances even further. The cylinder follower 30e quickly receives the piston follower 32e, which pneumatically fires the projectile round.

(34) FIGS. 20 and 21 show an alternative embodiment with three (n=3; e.g., 134k, 234k, 334k) barrels instead of a single barrel. The embodiment contains three separate piston and cylinder followers around a central cylinder cam 30d and piston cam 32d. On the top, there is a top cylinder follower 130e and a top piston follower 132e. This allows for rapid sequential firings of projectile rounds 38 with rotation of the barrel cam driving multiple followers; n=3 is shown for illustrative purposes but any number of n barrels may be employed instead of a single barrel, e.g., any number of two or more n barrels may be employed. On the bottom right there is a right cylinder follower 230e and a right piston follower 232e. On the bottom left there is a left cylinder follower 330e and a right piston follower 332e. Projectile rounds are fed from the projectile round combiner 40 into via the top projectile round shaft 140 into the top breech 134i. Projectile rounds are fed from the projectile round combiner 40 into via the right projectile round shaft 240 into the right breech 234i. Projectile rounds are fed from the projectile round combiner 40 into via the left projectile round shaft 340 into the left breech 334i.

(35) Just like in the single barrel embodiment, the followers are constrained to move longitudinally. The top cylinder follower tab 130j constrains the top cylinder follower 130e to translate longitudinally. The top piston follower tab 132j constrains the top piston follower 132e to translate longitudinally. The right cylinder follower tab 230j constrains the right cylinder follower 230e to translate longitudinally. The right piston follower tab 232j constrains the right piston follower 232e to translate longitudinally. The left cylinder follower tab 330j constrains the left cylinder follower 330e to translate longitudinally. The left piston follower tab 332j constrains the left piston follower 332e to translate longitudinally. The tabs are constrained by the structural housing.

(36) There is a breech bolt at the distal end of each cylinder follower which advances into their own breech. Each breech bolt has a fluid communication channel that allows for fluid communication between the inside of their cylinder follower and the distal end of the breech bolt. The breech bolts must advance into their respective breeches to fire projectile rounds but must be retracted for the breeches to receive projectile rounds.

(37) Also, each cylinder follower slidably receivers their respective piston follower: the top cylinder follower 130e slidably receives the top piston follower 132e, the right cylinder follower 230e slidably receives the right piston follower 232e and the left cylinder follower 330e slidably receives the right piston follower 332e. Each follower also tracks a cam follower pathway. The top cylinder follower 130e, right cylinder follower 230e and left cylinder follower 330e all track the cylinder cam follower pathway 30b. The top piston follower 132, right piston follower 232e and left piston follower 332e all track the cylinder cam follower pathway 32b. Also, all the followers have a biasing force applied.

(38) The cam follower pathways cause the followers to translate similarly to the embodiment with only one barrel. The cylinder follower and its respective piston follower will both retract. Then, the cylinder follower will advance so that the breech bolt advances it into the breech. Next, the piston follower quickly advances, and the projectile round is fired. However, the three sets of followers are 120 degrees out of sync with each other.

(39) FIG. 22 shows the angle offset of the cylinder cam follower pathway 30b and the piston cam follower pathway 32b. From the view thereof, the ledge in cylinder cam follower pathway cam pathway 30b is farther than the ledge of the piston cam follower pathway 32b. Hence, when the cams rotate, the cylinder follower tracking end 30f will reach the ledge of the cylinder cam follower pathway 30b before the piston follower tracking end 32f reaches the ledge of the piston cam follower pathway 32b. Therefore, the breech bolt 34f will extend into the breech 34i before the piston follower 32e fires the projectile rounds 38.

(40) While particular embodiments of the inventions have been shown and described in detail, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the present invention in its broader aspects. Therefore, the aim is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the claimed invention. The matters set forth in the foregoing description and accompanying drawings are offered by way of illustrations only and not as limitations. The actual scope of the invention is to be defined by the subsequent claims when viewed in their proper perspective based on the prior art.