Valve assembly for a compressed gas gun
View Patent ↗A valve assembly according to the present invention includes a valve housing having a first end and a second end. A selectively closeable flow path runs through the valve housing. A valve body is disposed in the valve housing. The valve body is moveable from a first position closing the flow path to a second position opening the flow path. The valve body has a channel therethrough. A secondary chamber is provided adjacent the valve body in communication with the channel. An exhaust port is provided in communication with the secondary chamber. A solenoid is provided adjacent the secondary exhaust port, the solenoid adapted to selectively open the secondary exhaust port. A compressed gas gun employing the valve assembly is also provided.
1. A compressed gas gun, comprising:
a gun body;
a trigger;
an upper chamber housing a bolt, the bolt moveable from a loading position to a firing position, the bolt having an aperture therethrough;
a lower chamber comprising a valve assembly comprising:
a valve housing,
a selectively closeable flow path through the valve housing,
a valve body disposed in the valve housing moveable from a first position closing the flow path to a second position opening the flow path, the valve body having a channel therethrough,
a secondary chamber on an opposite side of the valve body from the flow path,
an exhaust port in communication with the secondary chamber; and,
a solenoid adjacent the secondary exhaust port, the solenoid adapted to selectively close the secondary exhaust port;
a high pressure chamber adapted to receive compressed gas from a source of compressed gas in communication with the valve housing via the opening; and,
wherein actuating the trigger initiates a firing operation by sending an electrical signal to the solenoid.
2. The compressed gas gun of claim 1 , wherein the compressed gas gun is of the closed bolt type.
3. The compressed gas gun of claim 1 , wherein the gun body further comprises a firing port providing fluid communication between the flow path and the bolt aperture when the bolt is in a firing position.
4. The compressed gas gun of claim 1 , wherein the housing has a first end and a second end, wherein the valve body divides the valve housing into a second pressure area adjacent the secondary exhaust port and a first pressure on an opposite side of the valve body, the second pressure area having a greater effective surface area than the first pressure area when the solenoid closes the secondary exhaust port.
5. The compressed gas gun of claim 1 , wherein the solenoid comprises a solenoid plunger including a sealing portion, the sealing portion movable from a first position closing the exhaust port, to a second position opening the exhaust port.
6. The compressed gas gun of claim 1 , further comprising a high pressure chamber adapted to receive compressed gas from a source of compressed gas.
7. The compressed gas gun of claim 1 , wherein the valve body is moveable by the application of pneumatic force.
8. The compressed gas gun of claim 1 , further comprising a spring biasing the valve body to close the flow path.
9. The compressed gas gun of claim 1 , further comprising an electronic control circuit for controlling a firing operation of the compressed gas gun.
10. The compressed gas gun of claim 1 , wherein the bolt is adapted to be moved in at least one direction by the application of pneumatic force.
11. The compressed gas gun of claim 1 , wherein the bolt is adapted to be biased in at least one direction by a spring.
12. A compressed gas gun of the closed bolt type, comprising:
a gun body;
a trigger;
an upper chamber housing a bolt, the bolt moveable from a loading position to a firing position, the bolt having an aperture therethrough;
a lower chamber comprising:
a first valve assembly, comprising:
a valve housing,
a selectively closeable flow path through the valve housing,
a valve body disposed in the valve housing moveable from a first position closing the flow path to a second position opening the flow path, the valve body having a channel therethrough,
a secondary chamber on an opposite side of the valve body from the flow path,
an exhaust port in communication with the secondary chamber; and,
a solenoid adjacent the secondary exhaust port, the solenoid adapted to selectively close the secondary exhaust port;
a high pressure chamber adapted to receive compressed gas from a source of compressed gas in communication with the valve housing via the opening,
a bolt piston passage housing a bolt piston, the bolt piston pneumatically moveable from a first position to a second position;
wherein at least a portion of the bolt is adapted to be contacted by the bolt piston and to move the bolt when the bolt piston moves the at least a portion of the bolt;
a second valve assembly for providing compressed gas from the high pressure chamber to the bolt piston passage, comprising:
a valve housing,
a selectively closeable flow path through the valve housing in communication with the bolt piston passage,
a valve body disposed in the valve housing moveable from a first position closing the flow path to a second position opening the flow path, the valve body having a channel therethrough,
a secondary chamber on an opposite side of the valve body from the flow path,
an exhaust port in communication with the secondary chamber; and,
a solenoid adjacent the secondary exhaust port, the solenoid adapted to selectively close the secondary exhaust port;
wherein actuating the trigger initiates a firing operation by sending at least one electrical signal to at least one of the first solenoid and the second solenoid.
13. The compressed gas gun of claim 12 , wherein the gun body further comprises a firing port providing fluid communication between the flow path of the first valve and the bolt aperture when the bolt is in a firing position.
14. The compressed gas gun of claim 12 , wherein the bolt is biased to a firing position by a bolt spring.
15. The compressed gas gun of claim 12 , wherein the solenoid comprises a solenoid plunger including a sealing portion, the sealing portion movable from a first position closing the exhaust port, to a second position opening the exhaust port.
16. The compressed gas gun of claim 12 , further comprising a high pressure chamber adapted to receive compressed gas from a source of compressed gas.
17. The compressed gas gun of claim 12 , wherein the valve body is moveable by the application of pneumatic force.
18. The compressed gas gun of claim 12 , further comprising a spring biasing the valve body to close the flow path.
19. The compressed gas gun of claim 12 , further comprising an electronic control circuit for controlling a firing operation of the compressed gas gun.
20. The compressed gas gun of claim 12 , wherein the bolt is adapted to be moved in at least one direction by the application of pneumatic force.
21. The compressed gas gun of claim 12 , wherein the bolt is adapted to be biased in at least one direction by a spring.
22. A method of moving a bolt in a closed bolt paintball marker, the method comprising:
providing a bolt piston passage housing a bolt piston, the bolt piston moveable from a first position to a second position upon receiving a supply of compressed gas to the bolt piston passage;
providing a bolt moveable from a loading to a firing position, at least a portion of the bolt adapted to contact the bolt piston;
providing a valve assembly, the valve assembly comprising:
a valve housing in communication with the bolt piston passage,
a selectively closeable flow path through the valve housing,
a valve body disposed in the valve housing moveable from a first position closing the flow path to a second position opening the flow path, the valve body having a channel therethrough,
a secondary chamber on an opposite side of the valve body from the flow path,
an exhaust port in communication with the secondary chamber; and,
a solenoid adjacent the secondary exhaust port, the solenoid adapted to selectively close the secondary exhaust port; and,
providing a high pressure chamber for receiving compressed gas from a compressed gas source in communication with the valve assembly;
selectively supplying compressed gas from the high pressure chamber to the bolt piston passage by actuating a trigger, the trigger initiating a firing operation by sending an electrical signal to the solenoid.