Magazine assembly for presenting a pressure cartridge to a compressed gas powered device
View Patent ↗A magazine assembly presents a pressure cartridge to a compressed gas powered device, such as a gun, wherein the magazine assembly has a cartridge support biased with respect to a magazine to urge the pressure cartridge to a short (or seated) position, wherein an interlock plate is biased to engage the cartridge support. The bias on the interlock plate is overcome during insertion of the magazine assembly into a magazine chamber, at which point the cartridge support moves relative to the magazine in response to a seated length of the pressure cartridge. The bias on the interlock plate then controls the positioning of the interlock plate to engage the cartridge support and retain the pressure cartridge relative to the magazine assembly. A lever connected to the gun then engages the magazine assembly to translate the magazine assembly relative to the gun and pierce the pressure cartridge.
1. A magazine assembly for presenting a pressure cartridge to a compressed gas powered device, the magazine assembly comprising: (a) a receiving sleeve for a compressed gas cartridge, the sleeve defining a longitudinal axis; (b) a cartridge support disposed within the sleeve, the cartridge support moveable along the longitudinal axis between a short position and a long position; (c) a biasing member biasing the cartridge support toward the short position; (d) an interlock plate disposed between the biasing member and the cartridge support, the interlock plate moveable toward and away from the longitudinal axis of the sleeve, the interlock plate moveable between a release position permitting movement of the cartridge support between the long position and the short position, and an engaging position inhibiting movement of the cartridge support from the short position to the long position, and (e) a second biasing member biasing the interlock plate toward the engaging position.
2. The magazine assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
(a) a device frame having a magazine chamber, the magazine chamber sized to slideably receive the magazine assembly; and
(b) a lever connected to the frame and moveable between a loading position and a piercing position, the lever engaging the magazine assembly in the piercing position.
3. The magazine assembly of claim 2 , wherein the lever includes a cam track.
4. The magazine assembly of claim 2 , wherein the device frame includes one of a grip, a stock and fore end, the one of the grip, the stock and the fore end encompasses the magazine chamber.
5. The magazine assembly of claim 2 , further comprising a piercing pin fixed relative to the device frame, the piercing pin contacting a pressure cartridge when the magazine assembly is inserted in the frame.
6. The magazine assembly of claim 1 , wherein the interlock plate includes a keyway defining a cartridge support engaging surface.
7. The magazine assembly of claim 1 , wherein the cartridge support includes a projecting stem, the projecting stem sized to contact the interlock plate in the engaging position of the interlock plate.
8. The magazine assembly of claim 1 , wherein the cartridge support includes a seat for contacting a portion of the pressure cartridge.
9. The magazine assembly of claim 1 , wherein the interlock plate includes a keyway defining a cartridge support engaging surface, the keyway having a taper across a thickness of the interlock plate.
10. The magazine assembly of claim 1 , wherein in the engaging position of the interlock plate, a portion of interlock plate projects from an adjacent portion of the magazine assembly.
11. The magazine assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a release tab contacting a portion of the interlock plate, the release tab moveable between a loaded position and a release position.
12. A method for presenting magazine assembly having a pressure cartridge to a compressed gas powered device, the method comprising:
(a) providing a first biasing member and biasing a cartridge support within a receiving sleeve for a compressed gas cartridge of the magazine assembly, the cartridge support moveable along a longitudinal axis of the sleeve between a short position and a long position, the cartridge support biased toward the short position; and
(b) providing a second biasing member and biasing an interlock plate moveably mounted to the magazine assembly between a release position permitting movement of the cartridge support between the long position and the short position, and an engaging position inhibiting movement of the cartridge support from the short position to the long position, toward the engaging position, wherein the interlock plate is moveable toward and away from a longitudinal axis of the sleeve.
13. The magazine assembly of claim 1 , the cartridge support including a projecting stem passing through the interlock member.
14. A magazine assembly for presenting a pressure cartridge to a compressed gas powered device, the magazine assembly comprising: (a) a receiving sleeve for a compressed gas cartridge, the sleeve defining a longitudinal axis; (b) a cartridge support disposed within the sleeve, the cartridge support moveable along the longitudinal axis between a short position and a long position; (c) a biasing member biasing the cartridge support toward the short position; (d) an interlock plate moveable toward and away from the longitudinal axis of the sleeve, the interlock plate moveable between a release position permitting movement of the cartridge support between the long position and the short position, and an engaging position inhibiting movement of the cartridge support from the short position to the long position, and (e) a second biasing member biasing the interlock plate toward the engaging position, the interlock plate engaging the cartridge support in the engaging position.
15. A magazine assembly for presenting a pressure cartridge to a compressed gas powered device, the magazine assembly comprising: (a) a receiving sleeve for a compressed gas cartridge, the sleeve defining a longitudinal axis; (b) a cartridge support disposed within the sleeve, the cartridge support moveable along the longitudinal axis between a short position and a long position; (c) a biasing member biasing the cartridge support toward the short position; (d) an interlock plate moveable toward and away from the longitudinal axis of the sleeve, the interlock plate moveable between a release position permitting movement of the cartridge support between the long position and the short position, and an engaging position inhibiting movement of the cartridge support from the short position to the long position, and (e) a second biasing member biasing the interlock plate toward the engaging position, the interlock plate and at least a portion of the cartridge support being disposed at a common position along the longitudinal axis.