US3000371A - Automatic fluid powered gun - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 19,- 1961 F. D. HYDE AUTOMATIC FLUID POWERED GUN 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June lO, 1958 Nm Nw Mam Sept. 19, 1961 F. D. HYDE AUTOMATIC FLUID POWERED CUN 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June l0, 1958 1 /ow. wm.

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INVENTOR. FLOYD D. HYDE www? Assur Sept. 19, 1961 F, D, HYDE 3,000,371

AUTOMATIC FLUID POWERED GUN Filed June l0, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 h n N 8 N N un \1 N N O N lo N O 2' o N N a .3 N i8 N gj v N 0/ co 8 l* J s: a N Q N N i :a wr f :a N co D 25 rr N v j N 2 C0 y N N N INVENTOR.

FLOYD D. HYDE AGENT Sept. 19, 1961 3,000,371

F. D. HYDE AUTOMATIC FLUID POWERED GUN Filed June l0, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN'YIENTOR.

FLOYD D. YDE

ff/QM Agent F. D. HYDE AUTOMATIC FLUID POWERED GUN Sept.' 19, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jung 1o, 195s United States Patent 'Clice Patented Sept. 19, 1961 3,000,371 AUTOMATIC FLUID POWERED'GUN Floyd Don Hyde, 7021/2 S. Palm, Alhambra, Calif. Filed June 10, 1958, Ser. No. 741,097 16 Claims. .(Cl. 124-11) 'Ibis invention relates to an automatic fluid powered gun and more particularly to an automatic fluid powered gun which is adapted to propel BBs or other projectiles including pellets and slugs.

Various iluid powered guns have been utilized to ,propel BBs, pellets and slugs by means of manually pumped compressed air or pressurized fluid maintained at high pressure in a magazine container.

While automatic weapons and guns of various types may be made to operate automatically it has heretofore been diflicult to produce a simple automatic uid operated gun which may be sold at a reasonable price.

Additional, various mechanisms adapted to the construction of automatic fluid powered guns have been complex and unreliable.

According to the present invention an automatic uid powered gun may be economically ,produced While at the same time the mechanism of the gun is very reliable and durable.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an automatic Huid powered gun which is capable of utilizing contained supplies of high pressure gas for projecting or propelling BBs, pellets or slugs each time the trigger of the gun is pulled and without any further manipulation on the part of the operator.

Another oject of the invention is to provide a very simple mechanism for an automatic fluid powered gun wherein the trigger of the gun actuates a projectile elevator which trips a valve mechanism having a fluid pressure differential acting thereon, whereby the valve when tripped opens and permits -aV high pressure fluid supply to ow through the elevator thereby ,propelling a projectile from the elevator axially through the barrel of the gun.

Another object of the invention is to provide an automatic fluid powered gun which contains a constant supply of fluid under pressure communicating with a valve which is tripped by a projectile elevator which carries a projectile into alignment with the barrel of .the gun and wherein said mechanism includes means which automatically charges a chamber adjacent to the valve after each projectile is propelled from the barrel of the gun.

Another object of the invention is to provide an automatic Huid powered gun having a supply of high Ipressure fluid which is constantly delivered to a chamber wherein it tends to open a valve to relieve said Huid into the gun barrel each time theltn'ggeris pulled;\said mechanism including a restriction between the fluid supply and the chamber which `prevents pressure from building up in the chamber at a rate vwhich precludes theclosing action of the valve after the 'exhaustion of high pressure iluid from the chamber into tfhe barrel.

Another objectof the invention is to provide an automatic tluid powered gun which vcomprises novel trigger mechanism having a projectile 'elevator including an Yopening to transfer a projectile from a magazine area to a bore area and wherein the opening in the elevator,

which carries the projectile, automatically trips a valve which releases uid from a pressure chamber through the opening when it comes into registry with the barrel of the gun.

Another object of the invention is to provide an automatic fluid operated gun having a very simple and compact mechanism for automatically propelling a projectile 'from the gun each time the trigger thereof is pulled and without further action on the part of the operator.

Another object of the invention is to provide an automatic fiuid operated gun Vwhich is very simple and of economical construction and efficient in operation.

Another object of the invention is to rprovide `an automatic fluid operated gun which utilizes small containers of conventional type which are filled with pressure fluid such as liquid carbon dioxide.

A further `object of the invention is to provide an automatic-fluid operated gun having small compact mech- .anism which is adapted for use in constructing small automatic pistols capable of propelling BBs or other small projectiles.

Further objects and advantages of the invention may be .apparent from the following specification, appended claimsv and accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 .is a side elevational viewof an `automatic fluid operated gun according to the present invention and showing `the gun Vin pistol form having a portion thereof 'broken away and in section to show a pressure fluid container in the handle of ythe pistol;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary axial sectional View of the mechanism of the automatic uid powered gun in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a further enlarged fragmentary sectional view vtaken on the same plane as that shown in FIG. 2 and illustrating in detail the valve mechanism of the sun;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary axial sectional view of a modification of the automat-ic fluid operated gun in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken from the line `5--5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary axially sectional view of a further modication of the automat-ic uid powered gun constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary axial `section-al view of a still further modification of the automatic fluid powered gun constructed in -accordance with the present invention;

FIG. v8 .s a side elevational view of an automatic uid powered gun constructed in accordance with the present invention and in accordance with thelmechanical features disclosed in FIG. 7 of the drawings and showing portions broken away and vin .section to amplify the illustration;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view'taken from the `line 9 9 of FIG. 8 and;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of FIG. 7. Y

As shown in FIG. 1 of the -drawing an -automatic uid operated pneumatic gun 10 has a pistol configura-tion including a barrel 12, trigger 14, and handle 16. In 'the handle 16 is a gas container housing 18 within which Va conventional liquid-carbon dioxide containing bottle 20 taken from the line 10-10 is positioned. The housing r18 includes a conventional gas bottle diaphragm piercing mechanism common to various devices employing such carbon dioxide bottles. This arrangement permits insertion of the carbon dioxide bottle 20 into the housing 1S whereupon a conventional screw 22 forces the bottle into position and pierces the diaphragm therein whereupon the gas is released inside the chamber 18 and is delivered therefrom through a passage 24.

The gas passing through the passage 24 as shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings proceeds via a valve 26 through another passage. 28 to a passage 30 which communicates with a chamber 32. The chamber 32 communicates with a valve 34 which Vhas an outlet passage 36 disposed to communicate with a projectile elevator opening 38 and a bore 40 when the trigger 42 is pulled forcing the elevator 37 laterally of the bore 40 to carry the opening 38 into alignment with the valve passage 36 and the bore 40. The elevator 37 operates as a projectile loading member.

The Valve 26 is arranged to` interrupt flow of gas from the bottle 20 through the passage 24 and into the chamber 32 each time the valve 34 is opened and gas is exhausted from the chamber 32. This arrangement permits the valve 34 automatically to close before fluid pres- .'sure builds up in the chamber 32 and also permits the elevator 37 to return to the position as shown for receiving another projectile to be delivered in alignment with the bore 40 and passage 36 when the trigger is pulled. Referring now to details ofthe mechanism, it will be seen thatthe trigger 42 as shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings is pivoted on a pin 44 carried by the plunger 46 slidably mounted in a bore portion 48 of a sleeve 49 screw threadably connected to an externally screw threadable member 50which is screw' threaded in the housing 18. Passing through the middle of a member 50 is a shaft portion 27 of the valve 26 which has a seat 28'in the -housing 18 to control flow from the passage 24 through the valve 26 and to the passage 28. A spring 51 is disposed to force the valve 26 toward the seat 28 and a seal 5'2 is located to prevent leakage of fluid around the shank 27 of the valve 26. It will be seen that the shaft portion 27 of the valve 26 is substantially equal in diameter to the seat 28j. The area of the seat around the end of the valve provides for a differential area equal to that surrounded by the seat and this differential area is acted on by fluid pressure tending to open the valve 26. When the chamber 32 is charged and pressure therein equals that in the passage 24 the spring 51 closes the Valve 26 against the seat 28 since pressure therearound is equalized. Thus, the valve 26 is normally closed when pressure in the chamber 32 equals that in the passage 24. The chamber 32 is formed in a cylindrical member 54 mounted in a bore 56 in the gun frame member 58. The cylindrical member 54 is provided with an annular recess 59 in its periphery and this annular recess 59 communicates with the passage while radial passages 60 intercommunicate with the annular 4recess 59 and chamber 32. It will be understood that the displacement of the annular recess 59 is additive to the displacement of the chamber 32 in order to hold a charge of gas to be used for propelling a projectile from the bore 40 as will be hereinafter described. It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the cross sectional area of the annular recess 59 may be made larger or smaller according to the desired chamber capacity and the desired ballistic result to be obtained from the gas charge in the chamber 32. The cylindrical member 54 is engaged at one end and retained in the bore 53 by a screw threaded nut 62 and engaging the other ,endof the member 54 is a valve guide 64 in which a cylindrical valve member 66 is reciprocally mounted. Adjacent to the valve guide 64 isa plunger cylinder'68 which is mounted in the bore 56 and which is provided with a bore 70 wherein a valve plunger element 72 is reciprocally mounted. The plunger 72 as shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings is provided with a'reduced diameter end portion 74 which engages one side of the projectile elevator 37 at the opposite side of which the breech end of the bore 40 is disposed. Abutment of the end 74 of the plunger 72 with the projectile elevator 37 holds the plunger 72 in retracted position wherein it supports a gasket 76 in engagement with an end 78 of the hollow cylindrical valve member 66 which is slidably mounted in the valve guide 64. A seal 82 in the valve guide 64 surrounds the hollow cylindrical valve member 66 in order to prevent leakage of uid therearound from the chamber 32 toward the plunger 72. It will be seen that the hollow cylindrical valve member 66 is provided with an enlarged end 84 exposed to fluid pressure in the chamber 32 which tends to force the cylindrical valve member 66 into engagement with the gasket 76. It will be noted that a spring tends to force the plunger 72 toward the valve member 66 while a spring 92 tends to force the valve member 66 toward the gasket 76. This gasket 76 is retained in a recess in the end of the plunger 72 and is preferably a soft resilient gasket which provides an efficient sealing seat for the end 78 of thevalve member 66. A spring 94 exerts force on a block 96 engaging the seal ring 82 in order to pressurize the same around the valve member 66 to effect efficient sealing therearound. It will with the projectile elevator 37 that fluid pressure in the zchamber' 32 acts on the end 88 of the valve member 66 and on the gasket 76 internally of the hollow end 78 of the valvemember 66 thereby tending to force the end 74 of the plunger 72 against one side of the projectile elevator 37.

When the trigger 42 is pulled backwardly and pivots on Vthe pin 44 an arm portion 98 of the trigger at a slot portion therein engages a pin 102 carried by the projectile elevator 37 and moves the elevator laterally in a slot 104 in the frame 58 causing the elevator opening 38 to move toward the bore 40. During pivotal move- Vment of the trigger A42 an arm portion 106 thereof engages a spring loaded plunger 108 which is slidably supported on a bracket 110 which carries a spring 112 engaging the plunger 108 and tending to force it toward the arm 106. When the trigger is pulled backwardly a sufficient distance to force the projectile elevator opening 38 upwardly into aposition nearly aligned with the bore 40 the end 74 of the plunger 72 engages a funnel portion 114 in the normallv rearend of the opening 38 whereupon the pressure fluid in the chamber 32 acts on the plunger 72 and projects theend 74 of the plunger 72 into the opening 38 behind a BB or other projectile therein. When the plunger 72 moves forward to project the end 74 into the opening 38 a shoulder -116 on the valve member 66 engages an end ,of the bushing 96 thereby stopping forward motion of the lthe barrel 12.

While the trigger 42 is held backwardlv against cornpression of the spring 112 a corresponding force is exerted on the valve 26 tending to hold the same closed.

Thus, opening of the' valve 34 by separation of the valve element 66 and the gasket 76, during forward movement thereof, pressure fluid may be completely exhausted from the chamber 32 nwhereuponthe spring 91) quickly retracts the plunger 72'and the gasketr76 is again engaged with the end 78 Vof the valve member 66. This occurs before the projectile elevator 37 passes downwardly toward the position as shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings and consequently pressure of the spring 112 acting against the triggm" 4Z tends'to maintain a closing force on the valve 26 until the projectile elevator 37 has been completely retracted. The elevator is then in a position as shown wherein the opening 38 registers with a magazine tube 120 which is adapted to feed projectiles into the opening 38.

It will be herein noted that the magazine tube 120 may be arranged to feed BBs into the projectile elevator 37 by gravity or this magazine .tube may be of a conventional type wherein a spring loaded plunger feeds the projectiles into the projectile elevator. It will be understood that when the trigger 42 is released that the valve 26 may permit uid pressure to build up in the chamber 32 via the passages 28 and 30.

It will be noted that a backward pressure on the trigger 42 tends to hold the valve 26 closed while it forces the projectile elevator 37 upwardly into a position wherein the opening 38 nearly registers with the bore 40 at which time the end 74 of the plunger 72 is forced into the funnel shaped portion 114 of the opening 38 which thereby automatically trips the valve which comprises the plunger 72, gasket 76 and valve element 66.

This valve automatically opens when the plunger end 74 projects into the opening 38 and the valve is automatically closed by the springs 90 and 92. When fluid pressure in the chamber 32 is exhausted the valve closes before pressure can be built up in the chamber 32 due to the fact that the valve 26 is pressed upon its seat 28 by force of the trigger 42` against the spring 112. Subsequently a complete release of the trigger 42 relieves pressure on the valve 26 and permits it to fully open and allow the flow of pressure iiuid through the passages 28 and 30 and into the chamber 32 for recharging the same.

1n the modification of the invention as shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings a gas bottle 122 provides a supply of pressure fluid to be used as projectile propellant and the gas bottle 122 is located in a cavity 124 of the housing member 126 having a passage 128 similar to the passage 24 of the structure disclosed in FlG. 2 of the drawings. The housing 124 is provided with a shank portion 130 screw threaded in a frame member 132.

A passage 134 communicates with the passage 128 and located in passage 134 is a restricted orifice 136 which communicates with a chamber 138 in a valve bore 1-40 in the frame 132. Pressure uid passing through the oriiice 136 is conducted by a bore 142 to the chamber 138 wherein a valve plunger 144 is reciprocally mounted. A seal 146 surrounds the plunger 144 and this seal is engaged by a ring 148- maintained under compression by a spring 150 which tends to exert force on a liange 152 of the plunger 144.

This ange 152 is provided with notches therein permitting pressure fluid to flow past the flange 152 and into a rearward portion 154 of the chamber 138. The plunger 144 is provided with a hollow cylindrical portion 156 which is engageable with a gasket 158 on the face of the valve member 160 which is provided with a shaft 162 reciprocally mounted in a nut 164 screw threaded in the end of the bore `138.

A seal 166 is located in the nut 164 and engages the periphery of the shaft 162. The shaft 162 projects through the nut 164 and is provided with a stop ange 168 which is slightly spaced from the rear end 170 of the nut 164. The spacing of the flange 168 relative to the end 170 of the nut 164 will be hereinafter described in more detail in connection with the description of the operation of the invention.

The forward end of the shaft 162 projects beyond the gasket 158 and into the hollow cylindrical portion 156 of the plunger 144. Forwardly of the hollow cylindrical portion 156 the plunger is provided with a passage 172 which communicates with an end 174 of the plunger and this end 174 normally abuts the rear side 176 of a projectile elevator 178 which slides in a slot 180 in the frame 132 laterally of a bore 184 in a gun barrel 186.

The projectile elevator is provided with an opening 188 adapted to receive projectiles from a tubular magazine 190 and this opening 188 is adapted to move upwardly into registry with the end 174 of the plunger 144 and with the bore 184. A spring 192 exerts force downwardly on the projectile elevator 178 tending to maintain the opening 188 in registry with the magazine 190.

A trigger 194 -is provided with a slot bearing 196 engaging a pin 198 which is stationarily mounted on the frame 132. An arm 200 of the trigger 194 is connected to a spring 202 the opposite end of which is secured by a pin 204 to the frame 132. A projection 206 of the trigger 194 is engageable with an end 208 of a pawl 209 which is pivoted on a pin 210 carried by the projectile elevator 178.

With reference to FIG. 5 of the drawings it will be seen that the lower end of the projectile elevator 178 is bifurcated and that the pawl 209 is located between the bifurcated portions and that the pin 210 extends through the bifurcated portions and the pawl 209. Thus, the entire assembly is vertically slidably mounted in the slot 18) in the frame 132.

Pins 212 and 214 are projected through the frame 132 transversly thereof. The pin 212 is located forwardly of the slot 180 while the pin 214 passes through the slot 180 and is engageable by a normally rear portion of the pawl 209 which is provided with a downwardly and forwardly projecting angularly disposed portion having cam surfaces 216 and 218 engageable with the pins 212 and 214, respectively, as will be hereinafter described in the description of the operation of the invention.

lt will be here noted that the shaft portion 162 of the valve 160 is smaller in diameter than external portion of the plunger 144 which is engaged by the seal 146. Thus, a differential area is provided which is exposed to pressure iiuid to hold the valve 160 at its gasket 158 firmly engaged with the end 156 of the plunger 172 and also tends to force the end 174 of the plunger 172 rmly against the side of the projectile elevator 178.

Operation of the modiiied arrangement of the invention as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 is substantially as follows:

When the chamber 124 is lled with high pressure gas from the bottle 122 the passage 128 conducts high pressure uid to the chamber 138 via the restricted orifice 136 and when the chamber 138 contains pressure equal to that in the passage 128 the gun as shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings is ready to be operated. With projectiles in the passage of the magazine 190 the gun may be tilted upwardly at the muzzle in order to position a projectile in an opening 188 of a projectile elevator 178 which may be termed a projectile loading member. The trigger 194 may then be pulled whereupon it pivots on the pin 198 and acts against tension of the spring 202 connected to the arm portion 200 of the trigger 194. As the trigger 194 is pivoted about the axis of the pin 198 its projection 206 engages the end 208 of the pawl 209 tending to force it together with the projectile elevator 178 upwardly to a position wherein the opening 188 therein substantially registers with the bore 184 of the barrel 186. When the opening 188 in the projectile elevator 178 nearly reaches coincidence with the bore 184 a beveled portion 189 at the rear end of the opening 188 is engaged by the end 174 of the plunger 144 whereupon duid pressure in the rearward portion 154 of the chamber 138 acts on an area equal to the differential between the diameter of a bore portion and the diameter of the shaft 162. Since the shaft 162 is smaller than the bore 145 and the end portion 156 of the plunger 144 a pressure differential acting on the valve member tends to force it and the plunger 144 forwardly toward the barrel 186 whereupon the end 174 of the plunger 144 acts on the beveled surface 189 tending to cam the projectile elevator 178 upwardly into a position wherein the opening 188 in the projectile elevator 178 coincides with the bore 184. In this position the opening 188 receives the end 17 4 of the plunger 144 which is forced thereinto -by the uid pressure differential acting 7 on the valve member 160. As the valve member 160 and plunger 144 travel forward the end 174 of the plunger 144 is projected into the opening 188 behind the projectile therein and the flange 168 on the shaft 162 contacts the rear end 170 of the nut 164 thereby abruptly stopping forward motion of the valve member 160. Forward inertia of the plunger 144 causes it to continue in a forward direction thereby separating the hollow cylindrical end 154 thereof from the gasket 158 and permitting liuid pressure in the rearward portion 154 of the chamber 158 to act on the overall rear end area of the plunger 144. Thus, the plunger 144 continues to be projected forwardly into the opening 188 of the projectile elevator 177 until a shoulder 145 engages the washer 148 stopping forward movement of the plunger 144. Pressure of the fluid in the chamber 138 is thus dissipated by exhaustion of the gas through the central bore 172 of the plunger 144. The gas passes directly into the barrel 184 and forces the projectile outwardly therethrough. When liuid pressure in the chamber 138 is exhausted the spring 150 forces the plunger 144 backwardly causing the open cylindrical end 156 thereof to engage the gasket 158 on the valve 160. Continued flow of fluid through the orifice 136 builds up pressure in the chamber 138 while the spring 192 concurrently forces the projectile elevator 178 downwardly into the position as shown in the drawings wherein the side 176 thereof abuts the end 174 of the plunger 144 holding the hollow cylindrical end 156 thereof securely in engagement with the gasket 158. Fluid pressure as it builds up in the chamber 138 again creates a pressure differential on the valve member 160 tending to hold the Valve closed until the projectile elevator 17 8 is again moved upwardly by means of the trigger 194. It will be understood that action of the spring 192 returning the projectile elevator 178 downwardly following action of the spring 150, which moves the plunger 144 backwardly, exceeds a speed necessary to move the valve to closed position before a pressure differential is created thereon which tends to force the plunger 144 forwardly.

It will be noted that when the projection 206 of the trigger 194 forces the end of the pawl 209 upwardly the cam surface 216 engages the pin 212 and when the end 174 of the plunger 144 is projected into the inclined portion 189 of the opening 188 the pawl 209, at its cam surface 216 is cammed backwardly by the pin 212 permitting the end projection 206 to come to rest on the pin 212. When the spring 192 returns the projectile elevator 178 downwardly into the position as shown the cam surface 216 slides under the projection 206 of the trigger which is at rest against the pin 212. Action of the spring 202 forces the trigger, when released, to pivot about the pin 198 and slide relative thereto at its slotted portion 196 which permits the trigger to move forwardly a suicient amount so that the projection 206 passes downwardly and forwardly over the end 208 of the pawl 209 into a position below the end 208 of the pawl 209 and ready for another movement of the pawl and projectile elevator for a succeeding shot. It will be understood that the gun of the present invention operates in a semi-automatic fashion wherein a projectile is automatically expelled from the barrel 186 each time the trigger 194 is pulled. Action of the trigger forces the projectile elevator to carry a projectile upwardly into substantial alignment with the bore 184 whereby the opening 188 in the projectile elevator at its incline 189 permits a differential pressure acting on the Valve to force the plunger 144 into the opening 188 thereby causing the valve to open and automatically expel pressure uid from the chamber 138 and to propel the projectile outwardly of the gun barrel 186. The orifice 136 restricts iiow of pressure fluid into the chamber 138 so that the spring 150 has time to retract the plunger 144 and the spring 192 has suflcient time to return the projectile elevator 178 downwardly into loading position so that it provides an abutment to hold the plunger 144 in closed position relative -to the valve member 160.

In the modification as shown in FIG. 6 of the drawings a frame 220 is provided with a gas inlet orifice 222 similar to the orifice 136 as shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings. This orifice 222 is arranged to communicate with a supply of iiuid pressure. Communicating with the orifice 222 is a chamber 224 which includes an area 226 in a cylindrical tube 228 kscrew threaded in the frame 220.

Screw threadably adjustable in the tube 228 is a plunger 230 having an O ring seal 232. This plunger 230 is axially adjustable in the tube 228 to vary the capacity of the area 226 and consequently the chamber 224. Further contributing to the capacity of the chamber 224 is a hollow cylindrical bore 234 which contains the valve mechanism of the present gun. This valve mechanism includes a plunger 236 having a bore 238 surrounded by a small diameter plunger portion 240 having an end 242 which abuts a side 244 of a projectile elevator 246. The plunger 236 has a valve seat 248 at its rear end which is smaller in diameter than the external diameter of the plunger portion 240 whereby a differential area creates a pressure differential tending to hold the end 242 of the plunger 236 against the side 244 of the projectile elevator 246.

A poppet valve member 250 seats on the seat 248 and is provided with a reduced diameter shaft 255 which is smaller in diameter than the seat 248 thereby tending to create a pressure differential acting to hold the poppet valve 250 against the seat 248 and maintain the valve closed. A spring 258 tends to hold the poppet 250 closed on the seat 248 and the end of the shaft 255 is provided with a flange 257 adapted to labut an end 260 of a nut 262 which is screw threaded in the end of the frame 220. In the nut 262 is a seal 264 which prevents fluid from escaping around the shaft 255. The trigger 268 is pivoted on a pin 270 supported by the frame 220 and a spring 272 tends to hold the arm 274 of the trigger 268 backwardly toward the projectile elevator 24.6. An opening 276 in the projectile elevator 246 normally cornmunicates with a hollow tubular magazine 278 which is adapted to deliver projectiles into the opening 276 when the gun is tilted muzzle upwardly. A barrel 280 is provided with a bore 282 substantially aligned with the plunger 236 and adapted to receive projectiles from the opening 276 in the projectile elevator 246 when aligned therewith. A spring 284 tends to force the projectile elevator 246 downwardly into the position shown yand a pawl 286 pivoted on a pin 288 carried by the projectile elevator 246 is engageable by a projection 290 on the trigger 268 for forcing the projectile elevator 246 upwardly into a position wherein the opening 276 aligns with the barrel bore 282.

Operation of the modification of the invention as shown in FIG. 6 of the drawings is substantially as follows.

When the chamber 224 is charged with high pressure fluid the capacity of the chamber 224 may be varied by screw threadably adjusting the plunger 230 in order to increase or decrease the area 226 in the tubular member 228. When the chamber 224 is fully charged with high pressure iiuid a fluid pressure differential is created on the poppet valve 250 tending to hold it iirmely seated on the seat 248. Since the shaft 255 is smaller than the seat 248 a uid pressure diiferential acts to force the poppet valve 250 into engagement with the seat 248. When the trigger 268 is pulled and the projection 290 engages the pawl 286 the projectile elevator 246 is forced upwardly into a position wherein a chambered or inclined portion 277 receives the end 242 of the plunger 236 permitting the fluid pressure differential acting on the poppet valve 250 to force the reduced diameter portion 240 of the plunger 236 into the opening 276 at its ineline 277 thereby causing the opening 276 to be cammed upwardly and to register with the bore 282. As the end 242 of the plunger 236 is projected into the opening 276 the fiange 257 moves forward and abruptly `abuts the end 260 of the uut 262. Since the seat 248 of the plunger 9 246 is smaller than the outside diameter of the reduced diameter portion 240 of the plunger 236, a pressure differential acting on the plunger 236 tends to continue forward movement of the plunger 236 into the opening 276 of the projectile elevator 246. Subsequent abutment of the ilange 257 of the end 260 of the nut 262 stops the poppet valve 256 and causes the plunger 246 to move upwardly thereby opening the seat 248 relative to the poppet 250 and permitting pressure fluid in the chamber 244 and the bore 234 to be exhausted through the central central bore 238 of the plunger 236. Exhaustion of this pressure Huid into the bore 238 moves the projectile A from the opening 276 and into the bore 282 and outwardly through the barrel 280.

When pressure fluid is exhausted from the chamber 224 and bore 234 a spring 235 forces the plunger 236 backwardly toward the poppet valve 250 thereby causing engagement of the seat 248 therewith. This retracts the end 242 of the plunger 236 outwardly of the opening 276 in the projectile elevator 246 and permits the spring 284 to force the projectile elevator downwardly into the position wherein the opening 276 registers with the tubular magazine 278.

Action of the spring 235 and 284 takes place before sufficient fluid passes through the orice 222 to create a pressure differential on the poppet valve 250 which would overcome force of the spring 235. Thus, the valve is automatically closed while uid llow through the orifice 222 is building up pressure in the chamber 224. Thus, the mechanism of the gun automatically replaces itself to a position wherein the projectile elevator and its opening 276 receives another projectile A before uid pressure builds up in the chamber 224 whereupon subsequent force backwardly on the trigger 268 causes another automatic firing of the gun to send another projectile through the bore 282 of the barrel 280. Adjustment of the plunger 230 relative to the area of lthe space 226 of the tube 228 provides for additional capacity or a reduction in the capacity of the chamber 224 so'that either an increase or a decrease in the velocity of the projectile A may be accomplished as it proceeds from the barrel 288 of the gun.

As shown in FIG. 7 of the drawings the modified structure is provided with a barrel 300 supported in connection with a frame member 302 which serves as a valve housing and support for the barrel and is similar to the gun frame member 58 disclosed in FIG. 2 of the drawings. Slidably mounted in a bore 304 is a valve plunger 306 having an end 388 which is similar to the end 74 of the valve plunger 72 shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings. This end 388 is also similar to the end 242 of the plunger 236 shown in FIG. 6 of the drawings. Valve mechanism in connection with the plunger 306 is similar to the valve mechanism in connection with the plunger 240 shown in FTG. 6 of the drawings. The plunger 306 is provided with a gas delivery passage 310 centrally thereof.

it will be noted that the bore 304 in which the plunger 386 is reciprocally mounted intersects a bore 312 wherein the projectile elevator 314 is reciprocally mounted. This elevator 314 is similar to the elevator 37 shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings but the elevator 314 is so constructed that it permits a short trigger pull, as will be hereinafter described in detail. A spring 316 tends to hold the elevator 314 against a stop pin 318 while the trigger 320 is operable to force the elevator 314 upwardly away from the pin 318 against compression o-f the spring 316.

The trigger 320 is pivotally mounted on a pin 322 carried by the gun handle frame 324. Pivotally mounted on the trigger 320 by means of the pin 326 is a pawl 328 having a bifurcated end 330 terminating in a pair of angularly directed portions 332 and 334. These portions may be termed fingers. The nger 334 is engageable with an inclined ledge 336 on the elevator 314 and when the trigger 320 is pulled backwardly in the direction of the arrow A the linger 334` is forced upwardly carrying the elevator 314 away from the pin 318. Concurrently, the linger 332 at its angular surface 338 moves laterally on a pin 340 and gradually removes the linger 334 from interference with the ledge 336. During upward motion of the elevator 314 an inclined portion 342 of the elevator passes the end 308 of the plunger 306 whereupon forward pressure of the plunger 306 caused by gas pressure acting thereon causes the end 308 to exert force on the inclined surface 342 thereby creating a vertical component of force on the elevator 314 which is suicient to carry the elevator upwardly against compression of the spring 316. This action takes place very rapidly and follows a short pull of the trigger 326 which is suicient to move the end 344 of the inclined surface 342 past the end 308 of the plunger 306. As soon as the trigger has moved the elevator a short distance in this manner, the plunger then moves into the inclined surface 342 and cams the elevator 314 upwardly into a position wherein the projectile holding bore 346 in the elevator aligns with the bore 348 in the barrel 306. At this instance gas is discharged' through the bore 310 in the plunger 306 and the gas is dispelled behind a BB shown by dash lines B and this BB is thus propelled outwardly through the bore 348 of the barrel 300. It will be appreciated that the angle of the cam surface 342 must be properly proportioned relative to the force of the spring 316 and the force of gas acting on the plunger 306 in the direction toward the elevator 314. Further, the coetlcient of friction between the end 308 of the plunger 306 and the cam surface 342 must be taken into account. This mechanism has the advantage of providing for a very nominal trigger pull distance and also provides for a light crisp trigger pull.

When the trigger has been pulled and the pawl 328 is in the dash line position C the valve plunger 306 is automatically retracted in a similar manner to the operation of the valve plunger 240 shown in FIG. 6 of the drawings. This permits the spring 316 to force the elevator 314 downwardly into engagement with the stop in 318 and to bypass the linger 334 of the pawl 328. This action of the spring 316 and the elevator 314 is very rapid whereby the elevator 314 is returned to the solid line position shown before the operator is able to release the trigger 320. When the trigger 320 is released a spring 350 exerts downward force on the pawl 328 and concurrently pivots it on the pin 326 while pivoting the trigger 320 on the pin 322. The finger 334 of the pawl 328 is thus returned to its engaged position with the ledge 336 of the carriage 314. It will be seen that the length of the inclined surface 342 provides a long cam structure which is considerably longer than the beveled portion 277 of the carriage 246 shown in FIG. 6 of the drawings. This long cam surface 342 is therefore an advantage in shortening the trigger pull and also reducing its over all weight or force.

Communicating with the carriage bore 346 is a magazine bore 352 which is aligned with a magazine tub-e 354 wherein a plunger 356 is loaded by spring 358 toward the elevator 314. An end 360 of the plunger 356 is disposed to engage a plurality of BBs D in the magazine bore 352. Force of the spring 358 acting on the plunger 356 loads the Bs D into the elevator 314 and the furthermost BB engages a ledge 362 which prevents said BB from being forced backwardly through the elevator bore 346. The elevator bore 346 at its rearmost portion 364 is substantially equal in diameter to the end 308 of the plunger 306 whereby forward movement of the plunger 306 into the bore portion 364 precisely indexes the bore 346 of the elevator 314 with the bore 348 of the barrel 300.

Loading of the magazine bore 352 with BBs D as shown in FIG. 7 of the drawings is accomplished by a manual handle 366 which is connected to the plunger 356 and this handle 366 as shown in FIG. 8 projects outwardly and upwardly from the side of the gun and is provided with a knob 369 which may be manually grasped to force the handle forward and compress the spring 358. When in this position the end 360 of the plunger 356 is forward of a side opening 368 in the magazine tube 354. This side opening 368 communicates with the interior of the main frame of the gun wherein BBs are carried. Thus, the handle 366 is held forward while a gentle shaking motion of the gun causes BBs to enter the opening 368 and pass backwardly into the magazine bore 352. This loading action may be accomplished by tilting the gun to the left so that the opening 368 is on the upper side of the gun. When a shaking motion has caused the BBs D to roll into the magazine bore 352 the handle 366 is released permitting the compression spring 358 to force the end 360 of the plunger 356 against the BBs D so that they will progressively be forced into the carriage bore 346 against the shoulder 362 as they are consecutively fired from the gun.

The rear end of the gun frame is provided with a removable plug 370 so that BBs ,may be loaded into the inside of the gun frame for communication with the opening 368 leading to the magazine bore 352.

In the handle 372 of the gun frame is adjustably screwthreaded a bottle supporting screw 374 having a Wrench socket 376 accessible from the outside of the handle. Mounted on screw 374 is a cup 378V which is engageable with a bottle E of thev conventional type used in soda dispensers. Tightening of the screw 374 forces the bottle E upwardly into a socket 379 wherein a tubun lar punch 380 pierces the diaphragm in the end of the gas bottle E thereby releasing the gas into the tubular nozzle V380. This tubular nozzle 380 is mounted in the frame 302 and this nozzle 380 communicates with a valve mechanism such as shown in FIG. 6 of the drawings and supplies gas through an orice equivalent to the oriiice 222 shown in FIG. 6 of the drawings.

At opposite sides of the frame handle portion 372 are mountedrhand grips 382 and 384. The hand grip 382 at its normally upper edge 386 is disposed under a ledge 388 of the gun frame and the normally lower end' of the hand grip 382 is xed by means of a screw 390 to the handle frame 372. The screw 390 is screwthreaded into the frame 372. The hand grip 384 is readily removable manually from the handle frame 372 whereby the gas bottle E may readily be replaced when its supply of gas is exhausted.

The handle 384 at its upper end is provided with a portion 392 held under a ledge 394 of the gun frame and the lower end of the handle 384 is held by a detent 396 having a male element 398 xed in the handle 384. This detent element is provided with an annular groove "Jil engageable by a spring detent member 402 which is xed in the handle frame 372. The detent element398 is located in a bore 404 into which a curved end of the detent member 402 projects. K

The resilient character of detent member 402 permits its deilection when the groove 469 of the detent member 398 is moved into or out of engagement therewith.

It will be seen that manual pressure exerted against the lower end of the grip 384 will cause disengagement of the detent members 398 and 402Vwhereupon the lower end of the handle may be pivoted outwardly until the detent member 398 is removed from the bore 404. The handle may then be slid downwardly until the upper edge 392 is disengaged from the ledge 394 of the kgun frame. This permits complete removal of the handle and provides simple access to the gas bottle E for its replacement or removal. The act of replacing the gas bottle merely entails tightening of the screw 374 until the diaphragm of the bottle is pierced by the tubular piercing element 380. 'Ihis element is of the conventional type having a tapered end which provides a seal when the piercing operation is Performed.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that vari- 1'2 ous modifications of the present invention may be resorted to in a manner limited only by a just interpretation of the following claims.

I claim:

l. In an automatic uid powered gun the combination of: a frame; :a 4barrel having a bore therethrough and suppo-rted on said frame; 1a projectile loading member movable laterally of said bore; said loading member having a projectile holding opening movable into alignment with said bore; a chamber containing pressure fluid; a valve responsive to fluid pressure in said chamber and having a diierential area exposed to diuid force tending to project said valve toward said loading member and to open said valve; said valve having a hollow plunger element; said projectile loading member normally holding said plunger element to maintain said valve closed; :and a trigger for moving said loading member to a position in which said opening therein aligns with said bore and wherein said plunger element under fluid pressure is permitted to project into said opening whereby it opens said valve and said valve releases uid pressure from said chamber through said hollow plunger element and into said bore.

2. In an automatic fluid powered gun the combination of: a frame; a barrel having a bore therethrough and supported on said frame; a projectile loading 'member movable laterally of said bore; said loading member having a projectile holding opening movable into alignment with said bore; a chamber containing pressure iluid; a valve responsive to iluid pressure in said chamber and having a differential area exposed to uid force tending to project said valve toward said loading member and to open said valve; said valve having a hollow plunger element; said projectile loading member normally holding said plunger element to maintain said valve closed; and a trigger for moving said loading member to a position in which said opening therein aligns with said bore and wherein said plunger element under iluid pressure is permitted'to project into said opening whereby it opens said valve and said valve releases fluid pressure from said chamber through said hollow plunger element and into said bore; and ya source of fluid pressure communicating with said chamber; means for restricting the flow of pressure fluid to said chamber after said valve opens; and a spring tending to close said valve after said valve opens when pressure uid is exhausted from said chamber, said spring having sutlicient force to overcome the force of ruid pressure building up in said chamber by iluid flow through `said restricted orifice during the time it takes said spring to close said valve.

3. In an automatic fluid powered gun the combination of: a frame; a barrel having a bore therethrough and supported on said frame; -a projectile loading member movable laterally of said bore; said loading member having a projectile holding opening movable into alignment with said bore; =a chamber containing pressure Huid; a Valve responsive to iluid pressure in said chamber and having a differential area exposed to fluid force tending to project said valve toward said loading member and to open said valve; said valve having a hollow plunger element; said projectile loading member normally holding said plunger element to maintain said valve closed; and a trigger for moving said loading member to a position in which said opening therein aligns with said bore and wherein said plunger element under fluid pressure is permitted -to project into said opening whereby it opens said valve and said valve releases fluid pressure `from said chamber through said hollow plunger element and into said bore; and a screw threaded plunger communicating with saidchamber :and adjustable to vary the displacement thereof.

4. In an automatic fluid powered gun the combination of: a frame; a barrel having a bore therethrough and supported on said frame; a projectile loading member movable laterally of said bore; said loading member hav- 13 ing a projectile holding opening movable into alignment with said bore; a chamber containing pressure uid; a valve responsive to uid pressure in said chamber and having a differential area exposed to iluid force tending to project said valve toward said loading member and to open said valve; said valve having a hollow plunger element; said projectile loading member normally holding said plunger element to maintain said valve closed; and a trigger for moving said loading member to a position in which said opening therein aligns with said bore and wherein said plunger element under fluid pressure is permitted to project into said opening whereby it opens said valve and said valve releases uid pressure from said chamber through said hollow plunger element and into said bore; and a magazine tube disposed in parallel relation to the bore of said barrel and arranged to communicate with the projectile receiving opening of said projectile loading member when said projectile receiving opening is out of alignment with the bore of said barrel.

5. In an automatic iluid powered gun the combination of: a frame; a barrel having a bore therethrough and supported on said frame; a projectile loading member movable laterally of said bore; said loading member having a projectile holding opening movable into alignment with said bore; a chamber containing pressure fluid; a valve responsive to iluid pressure in said chamber and having a differential area exposed to fluid force tending to project said valve toward said loading member and to open said valve; said valve having a hollow plunger element; said projectile loading member normally holding said plunger element to maintain said valve closed; and a trigger for moving said loading member to -a position in which said opening therein aligns with said bore and wherein said plunger element under fluid pressure is permitted to project into said opening whereby it opens said valve and said valve releases uid pressure from said chamber through said hollow plunger element and into said bore; a spring tending to force said loading member in one direction; and a pawl pivoted to said projectile loading member and engageable by said trigger, said pawl pivotal out of position relative to engagement with said trigger when said projectile receiving opening receives the end of said plunger element whereby said pawl may bypass said trigger when said projectile loading member is returned by said spring in said one direction to a position wherein the projectile receiving opening is out of alignment with the bore of said barrel.

6. In an automatic fluid powered gun the combination of: a frame; a barrel having a bore therethrough and supported on said frame; a projectile loading member movable laterally of said bore; said loading member having a projectile holding opening movable into alignment with said bore; a chamber containing pressure uid; a valve responsive to uid pressure in said chamber and having a dilerential area exposed to uid tending to project said valve toward said loading member and to open said valve; said valve having a hollow plunger element; said projectile loading member normally holding said plunger element to maintain said valve closed; and a trigger for moving said loading member to a position in which said opening therein aligns with said bore and wherein said plunger element under uid pressure is permitted to project into said opening whereby it opens said valve and said valve releases fluid pressure from said chamber through said hollow plunger element and into said bore; a source of fluid pressure communicating with said chamber; means for restricting the ilow of pressure uid to said chamber after said valve opens; and a spring tending to close said valve after said valve opens and pressure uid is exhausted from said chamber, said spring having suicient force to overcome the force of iiuid pressure building up in said chamber by fluid flow through said last mentioned means during the time it takes said spring to close said valve; spring means for moving said projectile loading member relative to said bore whereby said projectile receiving opening is moved away from said bore when said plunger element is retracted from said projectile receiving opening after uidis exhausted lfrom said chamber.

7. In an automatic uid powered gun the combination of: a frame; a barrel having a bore therethrough and supported on said frame; a projectile loading member movable laterally of said bore; said loading member having a projectile holding opening movable into alignment with said bore; a chamber containing pressure fluid; a valve responsive to uid pressure in said chamber and having a dilerential area exposed to fluid force tending to project said valve toward said loading member `and to open said valve; said valve having a hollow plunger element; said projectile loading member normally holding said plunger element to maintain said valve closed; and a trigger for moving said loading member to a position in which said opening therein aligns with said bore and wherein said plunger element under iluid pressure is permitted to project into said opening whereby it opens said valve and said valve releases iluid pressure from said chamber through said hollow plunger element and into said bore; and a poppet valve engaging the end of said -hollow plunger element, said poppet valve separable from said `hollow plunger and having a llange, a stationary abutment means engageable by said iiange when said poppet valve and said hollow plunger move toward the bore of said gun whereupon the ange of said poppet valve stops movement thereof thereby separating the poppet valve from the hollow plunger and permitting the hollow plunger to move into the opening in said projectile loading member and to open said valve.

8. In an automatic lluid powered gun the combination of: a frame; a barrel having a bore therethrough and supported on said frame; a projectile loading member movable laterally of said bore; said loading member having a projectile holding opening movable into alignment with said bore; a chamber containing pressure fluid; a valve responsive to uid pressure in said chamber and having a differential area exposed to uid force tending to project said valve toward said loading member and to open said valve; said valve having a hollow plunger element; said projectile loading member normally holding said plunger element to maintain said valve closed; and a trigger for moving said loading member to a position in which said opening therein aligns with said bore and wherein said plunger element under iluid pressure is permitted to project into said opening whereby it opens said valve and said valve releases uid pressure from said chamber throogh said hollow plunger element and into said bore, and a source of iluid pressure communicating with said chamber; means for restricting the flow of pressure uid to said chamber after said valve opens; and a spring tending to close said valve after said valve opens and pressure fluid is exhausted from said chamber; said spring having suicient force to overcome the force of iiuid pressure which builds up in said chamber by fluid flow through said restricted orifice during the time it takes said spring to close said valve; said means for restricting the flow of pressure fluid to said chamber including a valve coupled to said trigger and disposed to restrict flow of iluid from said source to said chamber.

9. In an automatic iluid powered gun the combination of: a frame; a barrel having a bore therethrough and supported on said frame; a projectile loading member movable laterally of said bore; said loading member having a projectile holding opening movable into alignment with said bore; a chamber containing pressure fluid; valve means responsive to uid pressure in said chamber and having a diterential area exposed to Huid force tending to project said valve toward said loading member and to open said valve; said projectile loading member normally holding said valve closed; and a trigger for moving said loading member to a position in which said opening therein aligns with said bore and wherein said valve member is permitted to project into said opening whereby it opens and releases uid pressure into said bore from said chamber.

10. In an automatic uid powered gun the combination of: a frame; a barrel having a bore therethrough and supported on said frame; a projectile loading member movable laterally of said bore; said loading member having a projectile holding opening movable into alignment with said bore; a chamber containing pressure uid; valve means responsive to fluid pressure in said chamber and having a diierential area exposed to lluid force tending to project said valve toward said loading member and to open said valve; said projectile loading member normally holding said valve closed; and a trigger for moving said loading member to a position in which said opening therein aligns with said bore and wherein said valve member is permitted to project into said opening whereby it opens and releases fluid pressure into said bore from said chamber; and a source of iluid pressure communicating with said chamber; means for restricting the flow of pressure fluid to said chamber after said valve opens; and a spring tending to close said valve after said valve opens and pressure uid is exhausted from said chamber, said spring having sucient force to overcome the force of uid pressure building up in said chamber by fluid ow through said restricted orifice during the time it takes such spring to close said valve.

11. In an automatic fluid powered gun the combination of: a frame; a barrel having a bore therethrough and supported on said frame; a projectile loading member movable laterally of said bore; Said loading member having a projectile holding opening movable into alignment with said bore; a chamber containing pressure fluid; valve means responsive to fluid pressure in said chamber and having a diierential area exposed to iluid force tending to project said valve toward said loading member and to open said valve; said projectile loading member normally holding said valve closed; and a trigger for moving said loading member to a position in which said opening therein aligns with said bore and wherein said valve member is permitted to project into said opening whereby it opens and releases fluid pressure into said bore from said chamber; a screw threaded plunger communicating with said chamber and adjustable to vary the displacement thereof.

l2. In an automatic iiuid powered gun the combination of: a frame; a barrel having a bore therethrough and supported von said frame; a projectile loading member movable laterally of said bore; said loading member having a projectile holding opening movable into alignment with said bore; a chamber containing pressure uid; valve means responsive to fluid pressure in said chamber and having a diierential area exposed to liuid force tending to project said valve toward loading member and to open said valve; said projectile loading member normally holding said valve closed; and a trigger for moving said loading member to a position in which said opening therein aligns with said bore and wherein said valve member is permitted to project into said opening whereby it opens and releases fluid pressure into said bore from said chamber; a magazine tube disposed in parallel relation to the bore of said barrel and arranged to communicate with the projectile receiving opening of said projectile loading member when said projectile receiving opening is out of alignment with the bore of said barrel.

13. In an automatic uid powered gun the combination of: a frame; a barrel having a bore therethrough and supported on said frame; a projectile loading member movable laterally of said bore; said loading member having a projectile holding opening movable into alignment with said bore; a chamber containing pressure iluid; a valve responsive to fluid pressure in said chamber and having a dierential area exposed to uid force tending f to project said valve toward said loading member and to open said valve; said valve having a hollpw plunger ele ment; said projectile loading member normally holding said plunger element to maintain said valve closed; said loading member having an inclined cam surface extending laterally and angularly of said projectile holding opening and engageable by said hollow plunger element; and a trigger for forcing said cam surface into register with said plunger element whereby force thereof acts on said cam surface to move said loading member into a position wherein said projectile holding opening aligns with said barrel bore and said hollow plunger element, thereby permitting said plunger element to move into said projectile holding opening and to permit said valve to open and discharge pressure uid through said plunger element.

14. In an automatic fluid powered gun the combination of: a frame; a barrel having a bore therethrough and supported on said frame; a projectile loading member movable laterally of said bore; a trigger for actuating said loading member; said loading member having a projectile holding opening movable into alignment with said bore; a chamber containing pressure fluid; valve means having a plunger and responsive to fluid pressure in said chamber and having a dilerential area exposed to fluid force tending to project said valve toward said loading member and to open said valve; said projectile loading member normally holding said valve closed; and cam means engageable by said plunger for moving said loading member to a position in which said opening therein aligns with said bore and wherein said valve plunger is permitted to project into said opening whereby it Iopens said valve and releases iluid pressure into said bore from said chamber.

15. In an automatic fluid powered gun the combination of: a frame; a barrel having a bore therethrough and supported on said frame; a projectile loading member movable laterally of said bore; a trigger for actuating said loading member; said loading member having a projectile holding opening movable into alignment with said bore; a chamber containing pressure fluid; valve means having a plunger and responsive to iluid pressure in said chamber and having a differential area exposed to fluid force tendin'g to project said valve toward said loading member and to open said valve; said projectile loading member normally holding said valve closed; and cam means engageable by said plunger for moving said loading member t0 a position in which said opening therein aligns with said bore and wherein said valve plunger is permitted to project into said opening whereby it opens said valve and releases uid pressure into said bore from said chamber; anda tubular magazine disposed laterally of said bore and to communicate with said projectile holding opening when out of alignment with said bore; said magazine having a projectile receiving opening spaced from said loading member a distance equal to the aggregate dimensions of several projectiles and a spring loaded plunger in said magazine disposed to force projectiles therein toward said loading member.

16. In an automatic uid powered gun the combination of: a frame; a barrel having a bore therethrough and supported ron said frame; a projectile loading member movable laterally of said bore; a trigger for actuating said loading member; said loading member having a projectile holding opening movable into alignment with said bore; a chamber containing pressure fluid; valve means having a plunger and responsive to fluid pressure in said chamber and having a ditierential area exposed to fluid force tending to project said valve toward said loading member and to open said valve; said projectile loading member normally holding said valve closed; and cam means engageable by said plunger for moving said loading member to a position in which said opening therein aligns with said bore and wherein said valve plunger is permitted to project into said opening whereby it opens said valve and releases iluid pressure into said bore from said chamber; and a tubular magazine disposed laterally of said bore and to communicate with said projectile holding opening when out of alignment with said bore; said magazine having a projectile receiving opening spaced from said loading member a distance equal to the aggregate dimensions of several projectiles and a spring loaded plunger in said magazine disposed to force projectiles therein toward said loading member; and a projectile stop means in said pro- 5 jectile holding opening to resist force of said spring loaded plunger.

References Cited in the file of this patent 1S Kraft Nov. 18, 1924 Schmidt Nov. 27, 1928 Mihalyi June 14, 1932 Martin Sept. 7, 1954 Mangolini Jan. 18, 1955 Marocchi Oct. 29, 1957 Gale Dec. 24, 1957 Blahnik Apr. 14, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS Italy Nov. 24, 1956

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