CA2326464A1 — Improved electrically operated paintball gun

USPTO Abstract

An electrically operated paintball gun operable to shoot paintballs includes a barrel, a trigger, and a breech connected to a rear end of the barrel, as well as a bolt movable in the breech between a rearward position and a forward shooting position. A spring biases the bolt towards the rearward position. A pneumatic circuit is provided to drive the bolt towards the forward position and includes a control valve in the form of a solenoid valve to receive gas under pressure and direct it into a chamber at the rear of the bolt when the gun is shot. An electronic circuit controls the pneumatic circuit and is operated by an electrical switch operated by the trigger. A gas valve mechanism is opened by engagement by the bolt, when the latter is driven forwardly to the shooting position, to permit the passage of relatively high pressure propellant gas into the barrel to propel a paintball. This valve mechanism preferably includes a metal ball that normally projects into the bolt chamber and that is engaged and moved by the bolt when the bolt is driven to its forward position.