# US 9,752,846 B1 · Pneumatic launching assembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,752,846 B1 - Document ID: US9752846B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 15/051,201 - Filed: 2016-02-23 - Granted: 2017-09-05 - Earliest claimed: 2015-02-23 - Assignees: Lurker Paintball, LLC - Applicants: Lurker Paintball, LLC - Inventors: Ryan C. Kenaley; Steven M. Lynam - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9752846B1 ## CPC - F41B 11/721: for controlling gas pressure for both firing the projectile and for loading or feeding - F41B 11/71: Electric or electronic control systems, e.g. for safety purposes - 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 pneumatic projectile launcher with improved valve opening and closing characteristics includes a trigger mechanism in communication with a valve assembly, preferably through pneumatic or mechanical means. This valve assembly consists of at least two members; the first is used to seal a single projectile in a barrel tube so as to accelerate the projectile with a gas pulse (“bolt”). The second member of the assembly is a valve member which controls the release of said gas pulse. The aforementioned pulse that propels the projectile out of the barrel (“forward”) also acts on a face of the valve member opposite the projectile, translating the valve member rearward to the original, closed position. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A pneumatic projectile launcher for launching a projectile, comprising: a. a barrel having a bore therein; b. a trigger mechanism; c. a projectile feed port; d. a breech for positioning the projectile that communicates with the projectile feed port and the barrel; e. a pneumatic valve assembly comprising: i. a pneumatic control valve; ii. a pneumatic gas pressure regulator; iii. a pneumatic gas supply chamber, wherein the pneumatic gas supply chamber receives gas at a fixed pressure from the regulator; iv. a bolt coaxial to the bore of the barrel wherein the bolt slidably communicates with the bore in a forward and rearward positions, the bolt comprising a first forward end and a second rearward end and an internal channel, wherein the bolt is initially secured within the pneumatic control valve assembly in a rearward position by gas from the pneumatic gas supply chamber and wherein the pneumatic gas supply chamber comprises gas, wherein said gas generates a rearward gas force pressure on the bolt to enable the breech to receive the projectile, wherein the bolt includes a bolt sail to generate rearward force from the rearward gas force pressure; v. a valve member in communication with the bolt, wherein the valve member comprises a compliant stop for engaging at least a forward surface of at least one internal ridge in the internal channel of the bolt to create a seal, wherein a forward force acting on the bolt exceeds a maximum holding force of the compliant stop to force the at least one internal ridge over and beyond the compliant stop, wherein the trigger mechanism is in communication with the bolt and the valve member and wherein the trigger mechanism communicates with the second rearward end of the bolt through an electronic control board; and vi. an infeed tube for feeding projectiles into the breech; and f. a device causing a rearward bias of the valve member within the bore. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The pneumatic projectile launcher of claim 1 wherein the device is selected from the group consisting of a spring, pneumatic control and a magnet. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The pneumatic projectile launcher of claim 1 further comprising a valve spring within the pneumatic valve assembly for providing a rearward bias to the valve member. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The pneumatic projectile launcher of claim 1 further comprising a permanent magnet within the pneumatic valve assembly to latch the valve member in the rearward position. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The pneumatic projectile launcher of claim 1 further comprising a valve forward stop within the pneumatic valve assembly to stop forward movement of the valve member. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The pneumatic projectile launcher of claim 1 wherein the valve member is made of aluminum. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The pneumatic projectile launcher of claim 1 further comprising a handle. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The pneumatic projectile launcher of claim 1 further comprising a secondary support handle protruding downwardly from the barrel. ### Claim 9 A method of operating a pneumatic projectile launcher to launch a projectile, wherein the pneumatic projectile launcher comprises a barrel having a bore therein; a trigger mechanism; a projectile feed port; a breech for positioning the projectile that communicates with the projectile feed port and the barrel; a pneumatic valve assembly comprising a pneumatic control valve, a pneumatic gas pressure regulator, a pneumatic gas supply chamber, wherein the pneumatic gas supply chamber receives gas at a fixed pressure from the regulator, a bolt coaxial to the bore of the barrel wherein the bolt slidably communicates with the bore in a forward and rearward positions, the bolt comprising a first forward end and a second rearward end and an internal channel, wherein the bolt is initially secured within the pneumatic control valve assembly in a rearward position by gas from the pneumatic gas supply chamber and wherein the pneumatic gas supply chamber comprises gas, wherein said gas generates a rearward gas force pressure on the bolt to enable the breech to receive the projectile, wherein the bolt includes a bolt sail to generate rearward force from the rearward gas force pressure; a valve member in communication with the bolt, wherein the valve member comprises a compliant stop for engaging at least a forward surface of at least one internal ridge in the internal channel of the bolt to create a seal, wherein a forward force acting on the bolt exceeds a maximum holding force of the compliant stop, wherein the trigger mechanism is in communication with the bolt and the valve member and wherein the trigger mechanism communicates with the second rearward end of the bolt through an electronic control board; an infeed tube for feeding projectiles into the breech; and a device causing a rearward bias of the valve member within the bore, the method comprising: a. activating the triggering mechanism to generate a pneumatic bias to the bolt and the valve member, thereby causing the valve member and the bolt to move toward the breech, wherein the bolt and valve member are sealed together by means of their coaxial arrangement, and wherein movement of the valve member enables a flow a gas to communicate with the second rearward end of the bolt, thereby increasing the velocity of bolt actuation; and b. sealing the projectile infeed tube by movement of the bolt and valve member, wherein the second rearward end of the bolt is dislodged from the valve member by forcing the at least one internal ridge over and beyond the compliant stop, placing the second rearward end of the bolt in pneumatic communication with the pneumatic gas supply chamber to enable the gas to flow in a direct path from the pneumatic supply chamber to the projectile in the barrel thereby projecting the projectile through the bore of the barrel. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9 wherein the valve member is dislodged from the bolt by means of a valve forward stop. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9 wherein the gas flowing in a direct path from the pneumatic supply chamber to the projectile further acts upon the valve member thereby directing valve member to move in a rearward position with respect to the breech to reseat the valve member and stop gas flow from the pneumatic gas supply chamber.