# US 9,518,800 B2 · Pneumatic valve and regulator > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,518,800 B2 - Document ID: US9518800B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/959,824 - Filed: 2013-08-06 - Published: 2014-06-19 - Granted: 2016-12-13 - Earliest claimed: 2012-08-07 - Assignees: Immortal Air - Applicants: Immortal Air - Inventors: Dan Colby - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9518800B2 ## CPC - F41B 11/723: for controlling gas pressure for firing the projectile only - F41B: WEAPONS FOR PROJECTING MISSILES WITHOUT USE OF EXPLOSIVE OR COMBUSTIBLE PROPELLANT CHARGE; WEAPONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (projectiles for fishing, e.g. fish-spears, A01K81/00; sports implements for throwing A63B65/00, e.g. boomerangs A63B65/08; stationary apparatus for projecting sports balls, e.g. tennis balls, A63B69/40; throwing or slinging toys A63H33/18; knives, axes B26B; projectiles or missiles other than those incorporating springs as projecting means F42B6/00) ## Abstract A regulator assembly for a paintball marker includes a body having an inlet orifice for connecting to the compressed fluid source, an outlet orifice for connecting to the marker, and a cavity formed therein having a first chamber proximate the outlet orifice, a second chamber proximate the inlet orifice and providing a fluid pathway between the inlet and outlet orifices, a poppet valve functionally positioned within the outlet orifice, and a pneumatic valve actuator positioned within the cavity of the body and supportively coupled to the poppet valve. The pneumatic valve actuator comprises a piston, a spring pack and an adjustment strut. The spring pack is modular to allow interchanging and includes a plurality of Belleville springs properly oriented and secured in place by a washer and O-ring to create a predefined pressure threshold. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A pneumatic regulator assembly for a paintball marker, the regulator assembly comprising: a body having a threaded portion including an inlet orifice and forming a connection to a pressurized fluid source, an outlet orifice for connecting to a marker, and a cavity formed therein having a first chamber proximate the outlet orifice, a second chamber proximate the inlet orifice and providing a fluid pathway between the inlet and outlet orifices; a poppet valve having one end functionally positioned to extend through the outlet orifice; a pneumatic valve actuator positioned within the cavity of the body and supportively coupled to the poppet valve, the pneumatic valve actuator comprising: an adjustable air delivery shaft for regulating airflow from the fluid source through the inlet orifice and into the cavity, the shaft comprising a passageway there through having a volume and nozzle fluidly coupled to the passageway, the nozzle being shaped in a manner which increases the volume of the passageway; and at least two replaceable assemblies, each having a different predefined pressure threshold, each assembly comprising: a reciprocating piston having a polymeric seat at one end configured for blocking the nozzle, the polymeric seat and the nozzle defining a gap there between, the size of which can be altered by moving the adjustable air delivery shaft, and a recess at another end into which a biased end of the poppet valve is positioned, the piston being configured to open and close a passage between the first chamber and the second chamber of the cavity; and a spring pack comprising a plurality of Belleville springs properly oriented to create a predefined pressure threshold, the spring pack being positioned about the piston and secured thereon to bias the piston to close the passage; wherein the at least two replaceable assemblies are alternately placed in the pneumatic valve actuator to change an output pressure of the regulator, the nozzle and the reciprocating piston are positioned within the cavity outside of the connection to the pressurized fluid source, and a positive pressure differential in the first chamber of the cavity moves the piston to open the passage and block the nozzle. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The pneumatic regulator assembly of claim 1, wherein the body comprises a first body portion threadably engaged to a second body portion. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The pneumatic regulator assembly of claim 1, further comprising a detachable flange portion at the outlet orifice, wherein the detachable flange portion houses the poppet valve. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The pneumatic regulator assembly of claim 2, further comprising a detachable flange portion at the outlet orifice, wherein the detachable flange portion houses the poppet valve. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The pneumatic regulator assembly of claim 1, wherein the adjustable air delivery shaft is comprised of brass. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The pneumatic regulator assembly of claim 5, wherein the polymeric seat is comprised of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The pneumatic regulator assembly of claim 2, further comprising tool flats on each of the first body portion and second body portion to facilitate tightening of threaded connections. ### Claim 8 A paintball marker assembly comprising: a paintball marker; a pressurized fluid source; a pneumatic regulator assembly comprising: a body having a threaded portion including an inlet orifice and forming a connection to the pressurized fluid source, an outlet orifice for connecting to the marker, and a cavity formed therein having a first chamber proximate the outlet orifice, a second chamber proximate the inlet orifice and providing a fluid pathway between the inlet and outlet orifices; a poppet valve having one end functionally positioned to extend through the outlet orifice; a pneumatic valve actuator positioned within the cavity of the body and supportively coupled to the poppet valve, the pneumatic valve actuator comprising: an adjustable air delivery shaft for regulating airflow from the fluid source through the inlet orifice and into the cavity, the shaft comprising a passageway there through having a volume and a nozzle fluidly coupled to the passageway, the nozzle being shaped in a manner which increases the volume of the passageway; and at least two replaceable assemblies, each having a different predefined pressure threshold, each assembly comprising: a reciprocating piston having a polymeric seat at one end configured for blocking the nozzle, the polymeric seat and the nozzle defining a gap there between, the size of which can be altered by moving the adjustable air delivery shaft, and a recess at another end into which a biased end of the poppet valve is positioned, the piston being configured to open and close a passage between the first chamber and the second chamber of the cavity; and a spring pack comprising a plurality of Belleville springs properly oriented to create a predefined pressure threshold, the spring pack being positioned about the piston and secured thereon to bias the piston to close the passage; wherein the at least two replaceable assemblies can be alternately placed in the pneumatic valve actuator to change an output pressure of the regulator, the nozzle and the reciprocating piston are positioned within the cavity outside of the connection to the pressurized fluid source, and a positive pressure differential in the first chamber of the cavity moves the piston to open the passage and block the nozzle. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The paintball marker assembly of claim 8, wherein the body comprises a first body portion threadably engaged to a second body portion. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The paintball marker assembly of claim 8, wherein the pneumatic regulator further comprises a detachable flange portion at the outlet orifice, wherein the detachable flange portion houses the poppet valve. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The paintball marker assembly of claim 9, wherein the pneumatic regulator further comprises a detachable flange portion at the outlet orifice, wherein the detachable flange portion houses the poppet valve. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The paintball marker assembly of claim 8, wherein the adjustable air delivery shaft is comprised of brass. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The paintball marker assembly of claim 12, wherein the polymeric seat is comprised of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The paintball assembly of claim 9, wherein the pneumatic regulator further comprises tool flats on each of the first body portion and second body portion to facilitate tightening of threaded connections. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The pneumatic regulator assembly of claim 1, wherein the predefined pressure threshold of each of the at least two replaceable assemblies is in the range of from about 250 PSI to about 1,150 PSI. ### Claim 16 (depends on 8) The paintball assembly of claim 8, wherein the predefined pressure threshold of each of the at least two replaceable assemblies is in the range of from about 250 PSI to about 1,150 PSI.