Paintball marker and kit of parts therefor

A paintball marker, comprising:

• a body, wherein the body defines a paintball inlet;
• an inlet control device, wherein the inlet control device is movable with respect to the body for controlling the flow of paintballs into the marker through the paintball inlet;
• a firing valve, wherein the firing valve includes a firing valve movable element that is movable to control the flow of firing gas to fire a paintball;
• an actuator, wherein the actuator includes an actuator movable element and wherein the actuator movable element is operatively connected to the firing valve movable element, wherein the actuator movable element is movable by pressurized gas;
• a control valve, wherein the control valve is operatively connected to the actuator and is configured to control the flow of pressurized gas to the actuator, wherein the control valve is a poppet-style spool valve;
• and
• a trigger, wherein the trigger is mechanically operatively connected to the control valve without an intervening solenoid.

A paintball marker, comprising:

• a body, wherein the body defines a paintball inlet;
• an inlet control device, wherein the inlet control device is movable with respect to the body for controlling the flow of paintballs into the marker through the paintball inlet;
• a firing valve, wherein the firing valve includes a firing valve movable element that is movable to control the flow of firing gas to fire a paintball;
• an actuator, wherein the actuator includes an actuator movable element and wherein the actuator movable element is operatively connected to the firing valve movable element, wherein the actuator movable element is movable by pressurized gas;
• a control valve, wherein the control valve includes a housing defining an interior, the housing having an inlet port for receiving pressurized gas, an outlet port and a vent port, wherein the outlet port is fluidically connected to the actuator movable element, wherein the housing further includes a first housing sealing surface between the inlet port and the outlet port, and a second housing sealing surface between the outlet port and the vent port, wherein each of the first and second housing sealing surfaces is positioned on a housing feature that projects into the interior relative to an adjacent portion of the housing, wherein the control valve further includes a control valve spool that is movably mounted in the housing, the control valve spool having a first spool sealing surface between the inlet port and the outlet port and a second spool sealing surface between the outlet port and the vent port, wherein each of the first and second spool sealing surfaces is positioned on a spool feature that projects into the interior relative to an adjacent portion of the spool,
• wherein the control valve is positionable in a first position wherein the second spool sealing surface seals against the second housing sealing surface and the first spool sealing surface is unsealed with respect to the first housing sealing surface to permit fluid communication between the outlet port and the vent port, and a second position wherein the first spool sealing surface seals against the first housing sealing surface and the second spool sealing surface is unsealed with respect to the second housing sealing surface to permit fluid communication between the inlet port and the outlet port;
• and
• a trigger, wherein the trigger is at least one of mechanically and pneumatically operatively connected to the control valve.