Apparatus and method for firing a projectile

Abstract

Apparatus for firing a projectile comprises a receiver, a barrel, a supply of combustible gas, a combustion chamber, a valve arrangement for controlling flow of combustible gas from the supply to the combustion chamber, an igniter, and a passageway for directing combustion gases from the chamber to propel a projectile from the apparatus. In one embodiment, the barrel has a longitudinally-extending central axis, and the combustion chamber is disposed laterally adjacent the axis. A method of operating the apparatus comprises the steps of providing a combustible mixture of gas and air to the combustion chamber, igniting the mixture so as to generate combustion gases, allowing pressure in the combustion chamber to increase to a predetermined level, and releasing the gases from the combustion chamber and directing the gases to propel the projectile through the barrel.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.