Multi-shot airgun
An airgun for use with a projectile supply is described. A cam surface of the airgun and a bolt positioner of the airgun are configured so that rotation from a firing position to a reloading position causes a cam surface of the airgun to drive the bolt positioner through a passageway of the projectile supply to drive a projectile in the passageway to a position where pressurized gas in the firing location will thrust the projectile through the bore.
1. An airgun comprising:
a multi-shot projectile supply having:
a housing defining a passageway extending along a supply axis configured to receive a projectile; and
a carousel defining a plurality of projectile holders positioned about a central axis, a projectile holder of the plurality of projectile holders aligned with the passageway, wherein at least a portion of an edge of the carousel protrudes through an opening in the housing; and
an air system having:
a compression tube; and
a compression piston having a piston surface and a compression seal with a mounting surface configured for mounting substantially about a perimeter of the compression piston and a seal face facing a transfer tube,
wherein the compression piston compresses a gas in the compression tube from an initial volume to a reduced volume in response to firing the airgun and causes a pressure of the gas to reach a level sufficient to overcome a static and dynamic friction holding force acting to hold the projectile in a bore.
2. The airgun of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of projectile holders provide a stop gap through which a stop may pass to permit rotation of a carousel when no projectile is in a projectile holder positioned proximate to a loading area.
3. The stop of claim 2 , wherein movement of the stop through the stop gap is blocked when a projectile is present in the projectile holder.
4. The airgun of claim 1 , wherein a perimeter groove is provided in the seal face substantially about a perimeter of the compression seal.
5. The airgun of claim 1 , wherein a compressed gas from the compression tube applies a sealing force that seals against an end of the compression tube such that the seal face maintains contact with walls of the compression tube.
6. The airgun of claim 1 , wherein the compression seal further contains a compression seal biasing member which creates an outward force that urges a sealing surface in an outward direction against the compression tube.
7. The compression seal biasing member of claim 6 , wherein the compression seal biasing member comprises at least one of magnetic, pneumatic, or frictional forces.
8. A multi-shot projectile supply comprising:
a cover configured to prevent projectiles loaded in the multi-shot projectile supply from being loaded and unloaded at positions other than a firing position; and
a carousel positioned within the cover, wherein at least a portion of an edge of the carousel protrudes through an opening in the cover, the carousel defining:
a plurality of projectile holders positioned about a central axis; and
a stop gap defined within the plurality of projectile holders;
a stop positioned proximate a loading position of the multi-shot projectile supply, the stop configured to prevent rotation in a first direction of the carousel when a projectile is loaded in one of the plurality of projectile holders and to allow rotation in the first direction of the carousel when the plurality of projectile holders are empty; and
a rotation spring configured to rotate the carousel in the first direction.
9. The multi-shot projectile supply of claim 8 , wherein the stop gap is configured to enable rotation in both the first direction and a second direction when the plurality of projectile holders are empty.
10. The multi-shot projectile supply of claim 8 , wherein the rotation spring is configured to store energy as the carousel is rotated in a second direction while loading projectiles into the plurality of projectile holders.
11. The multi-shot projectile supply of claim 8 , wherein movement of the stop through the stop gap is blocked when a projectile is present in a projectile holder of the plurality of projectile holders.
12. The multi-shot projectile supply of claim 8 , wherein the cover defines an opening that enables a bolt of an airgun to interface with a projectile in a projectile holder of the plurality of projectile holders for loading and firing an airgun.
13. A multi-shot airgun comprising:
a multi-shot projectile supply having:
a cover configured to prevent projectiles loaded in the multi-shot projectile supply from being loaded and unloaded at positions other than a firing position;
a carousel positioned within the cover and defining:
a plurality of projectile holders positioned about a central axis; and
a stop gap defined within the plurality of projectile holders;
a stop positioned proximate a loading position of the multi-shot projectile supply, wherein the stop is configured to prevent rotation in a first direction of the carousel b the stop gap being blocked when a projectile is loaded in one of the plurality of projectile holders and to allow rotation in the first direction of the carousel when the plurality of projectile holders are empty; and
a rotation spring configured to rotate the carousel in the first direction; and
an air system comprising:
a compression tube; and
a compression piston having a piston surface and a compression seal with a mounting surface configured for mounting substantially about a perimeter of the compression piston and a seal face facing a transfer tube,
wherein the compression piston compresses a gas in the compression tube from an initial volume to a reduced volume in response to firing the multi-shot airgun and causes a pressure of the gas to reach a level sufficient to overcome a static and dynamic friction holding force acting to hold the projectile in a bore.
14. The multi-shot airgun of claim 13 , wherein the stop gap is configured to enable rotation in both the first direction and a second direction when the plurality of projectile holders are empty.
15. The multi-shot airgun of claim 13 , wherein the rotation spring is configured to store energy as the carousel is rotated in a second direction while loading projectiles into the plurality of projectile holders.
16. The multi-shot airgun of claim 13 , wherein at least a portion of an edge of the carousel protrudes through an opening in the cover.
17. The multi-shot airgun of claim 13 , wherein a perimeter groove is provided in the seal face substantially about a perimeter of the compression seal.
18. The multi-shot airgun of claim 13 , wherein the compression seal further contains a compression seal biasing member which creates an outward force that urges a sealing surface in an outward direction against the compression tube.