Multi-pellet launcher with adjustable payload

A system for propelling a plurality of pellets from a launch tube which comprises:

• a retainer plug for holding a plurality of an “n” number of pellets inside the launch tube in response to a bias force “Fs” imposed on the pellets by a compressed spring;
• a latch assembly established on the launch tube for restraining a forward movement of the retainer plug in response to the bias force imposed by the compressed spring, wherein the latch assembly is selected from a plurality of latch assemblies, and wherein the selected assembly is dependent on the value of “n”, and wherein the bias force “Fs” is substantially constant for all latch assemblies;
• and
• a means for propelling the launch tube in a forward direction to create an acceleration force for moving the retainer plug and the pellets in a rearward direction to further compress the spring and release the latch assembly from the retainer plug for a subsequent forward propulsion of the retainer plug and the plurality of pellets from the launch tube in response to the bias force of the compressed spring.

A method for assembling a multi-pellet launcher which comprises the steps of:

• providing a hollow elongated launch tube formed with a lumen and having a closed proximal end and an open distal end;
• positioning a spring inside the lumen of the launch tube against the closed proximal end thereof, wherein the spring has a relaxed length “x” and a spring constant “k”, and wherein the spring can be compressed through a distance “Δx” to create a predetermined static force “Fs”, where Fs=kΔx;
• loading the launch tube with a plurality of a selected “n” number of pellets, with the pellets being located in the lumen of the tube, distal to the spring;
• engaging an acceleration-activated, binary latch assembly with the tube, wherein the latch assembly includes a retainer plug located distal to the pellets to contact and hold the pellets stationary in the tube, prior to an acceleration-release of the retainer plug from the tube;
• and
• configuring the latch assembly to compress the spring to create the predetermined static force “Fs” for launching the pellets from the tube upon an acceleration-release of the retainer plug.