US3045659A - Gas powered gun - Google Patents

Description

July 24, 1962 w. R. MALCOLM GAS POWERED GUN Filed March 19. 1959 INVENTOR.

WILLIAM R. MALCOLM w ow mm 3 mm mm N mm United States Patent 3,045,659 GAS POWERED GUN William R. Malcolm, Baldwin Park, Calili, assignor to Crosman Arms Company, Inc., Fairport, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Mar. 19, 1959, Ser. No. 800,503 4 Claims. (Cl. 124-11) The present invention relates to a gas powered gun, and more particularly to an improved gas powered underwater gun for harpooning large fish and mammals. In another aspect, also, the invention relates to a spear or missile for use in such a gun.

Heretofore, gas powered underwater guns have been so constructed that the projectile or spear is subjected to the gas pressure only upon actuation of the trigger mechanism. With this manner. of operation, the propelling gas does not have the opportunity to build up to maximum pressure before the spear begins traveling out of the barrel. This mode of operation tends to reduce therange of the projectile relative to the gas pressure which is used to propel it, and uses the gas pressure inefficiently. A full cartridge of gas is required to fire a single projectile.

Also, gas powered underwater guns which have heretofore been used, are large and bulky. Furthermore, prior construction prevents the projectiles from being loaded into the gun under water.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide an improved underwater gas powered gun'having means for directly subjecting its spear or projectile to maximum propelling pressure before the spear begins traveling forward in the barrel of the gun.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved gas powered underwater gun which can fire several times from the gas of a single cartridge.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved underwater gas powered gun which is shorter and lighter, yet is more powerful than the underwater gas powered guns now in use.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved underwater gas powered gun which can readily be reloaded beneath the surface of the water.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved underwater gas powered gun which can readily be reloaded and refired beneath the surface of the water.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an improved underwater gas powered gun adapted to propel a hollow elongated spear, which spear is so constructed that when it is loaded into the gun, it can discharge the water from its interior prior to firing.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an improved underwater gas powered gun which is adapted to be used to propel a hollow elongated spear, and which is so arranged that the projectile itself is formed with a gas chamber adapted to receive a gas charge which augments the force for propelling the projectile from the barrel.

A still further object of invention is to provide an improved elongated spear-like projectile for use in an underwater gun of the character described and having means for providing additional propelling force after the projectile leaves the barrel of the gun.

.A still further object of this invention is to provide an improved underwater gas powered gun which is powerful in its operation, simple in its construction, and economical to manufacture.

Other objects of this invention will become apparent from the drawing, the specification, and the appended claims.

- In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary sectional view of an underwater gun constructed according to one embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view of the rear portion of the gun showing how a gas cartridge is mounted in position;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of an elongated hollow spear constructed according to one embodiment of this invention and adapted to be used with the gun; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of the spear shown in FIG. 3 showing its inner mechanism in the position it assumes when loaded in the gun and subjected to gas pressure.

Referring to the drawing, the gun comprises a stock or grip 10, which supports an elongated tube or barrel 11 and is attached thereto by screws 12. The front opening of the tube or barrel 11 is formed to axially receive an elongated hollow barrel 14 which can be secured to the tube or barrel 11 by welding, soldering, threading, or other conventional means. Secured in the interior of the tube or barrel 11 by means of a screw 16 is a tubular valve body 20. The valve body 20 has a forward cylindrical portion or stem 22 of reduced diameter, and a raised shoulder portion 24 which engages a shoulder 26 formed in the tube or barrel 11.

The valve body 20 is provided with a rearwardly extending stem portion 28 which is threaded intermediate its ends as denoted at 32. Extending axially through the central portion of the valve body 20 is an elongated bore or duct 33, which communicates at its front end with the interior of the 'hollow tube or barrel 11, and communicates adjacent its rear end with a radial duct 34, which is located rearwardly of the threaded portion 32,. The radial duct 34 extends to the periphery of the portion 28 of the valve body.

A piercing pin 35 extends axially from, and is rigidly secured to, the rear face of the portion 28. Surrounding this piercing pin and secured to the rear face of the portion 28 is a gasket 36. A housing 38 is adapted to receive a conventional gas cartridge 40 which supplies the gas for propelling the projectile from the gun. The cartridge is positioned in the housing so that the neck portion of the cartridge bears against a gasket 42 positioned in a counterbore in the housing. The housing 38 has a forwardly extending cylindrical portion 44- of reduced diameter, which fits into the rear of the tube or barrel 1i, and is adjustably attached to the valve body 20 by the threaded portion 32. A radially extending stop member 45, which is secured in the portion 44, cooperates with an annular slot 46 in the periphery of the body 20 to limit threading movement of the housing 38 relative to the valve body 243 in both directions. The portion of the housing 38, which surrounds that portion of the stem 28 rearwardly of the threaded portion 32, has a slight clearance with reference thereto. The interior of this reduced portion of the housing is counterbored to provide a seat 48 against which the gasket 36 seats when the housing is threaded forwardly to its limit position. An O-ring seal 47, which is positioned forwardly of the duct 34, prevents the gas from escaping forwardly of duct 34- between the valve body and the housing. The rear of the housing 38 has a thrust member 49 (FIG. 2), threaded into it and which is adjustable by a handle 50 to force the cartridge 40 forward to pierce it.

A trigger 52 is pivotally mounted in the grip 10 at 54. The trigger 52 has a projection 55 which engages an opening of a sear 58 that extends through the grip 10 and the tube or barrel 11 to project slightly into the tube or barrel 11. A coil spring 59 positioned in the grip 10 between the tube or barrel 11 and the trigger 52 urges the trigger in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 1.

An elongated projectile or spear, such as is shown in FIG. 3, is adapted to be used with this gun. The projectile comprises a cylindrical tube or body 60, the forward end of which is closed by a threaded plug 62. The joint between the threaded plug 62 and the tube 66 is pressure sealed by an O-ring 63. A piercing head 64 is threaded into the forward end of the plug 62 at 66. This head comprises a rod 65 and a shaped cap 67.

Rearwardly of rod 65, the plug 62 has an axially extending duct 68 therein which communicates at its rear with the interior of the tube 60 and at its forward end with a hole 70 which opens at the outside of the plug 62. A tubular member 72 is axially threaded at 73 into the rear of the tube 60. The threaded connection is pressure sealed by an O-ring 74, which is positioned between the tube 60 and a shoulder 75 of the member 72. The inner or forward end of the bore of the member 72 is formed to provide an internal coniform valve seat 76.

A coil spring 80 is mounted in the tube 60. The forward end of the spring 80 surrounds the rear, reduced diameter portion of plug 62 and rests against a shoulder 82 on this plug. The rear of the spring 80 surrounds a reduced diameter portion of a block 85 and bears against a shoulder 84 formed on this block 85. The block 85 is slidably mounted on the tube 60, and has an axially extending valve rod 89 attached thereto and extending forwardly in the tube 60. The spring 80 surrounds this rod. Monuted on the rearward extending portion of the block 85 is a sleeve 92. This sleeve is so formed at its rear end that it sealingly engages the coniform valve seat 76 of the member 72 when the valve is held in its rearmost position by the spring 80 as shown in FIG. 3. The member 72 has an O-ring 78 which is adapted to engage the exterior of the forward cylindrical portion or stem 22 of valve body 20, when the projectile is in the gun, to pressure seal the projectile to the valve body 20 when in firing position.

Surrounding the sleeve 92 and securely attached to block 85 is a sealing ring 90 which is adapted to slidingly engage the inside wall of tube 60. The member 72 also has an annular peripheral groove 96 into which the trigger sear 58 engages when the projectile is in firing position to hold the projectile in position in the gun as will be described in detail hereinafter.

A line 91 which can be tied in either a hole 93 in the forward end of the spear 64, or in an opening 95 in the rear portion of the spear member 64 is provided for retrieving the projectile after it has reached its target. The line is adapted to be operably attached to a conventional rotatable reel that is mounted in a housing 97 which is mounted beneath the barrel 14 of the gun.

In operation, a gas cartridge 40 is positioned in the housing 38 and the thrust member 49 is threaded inwardly so as to force the neck of the cartridge against the gasket 42 and the piercing pin 35. This pierces the cartridge 40 but the gasket 42 seals and surrounds the puncture to prevent the escape of gas rearwardly in the housing 38. The elongated spear is then inserted in the muzzle end of the barrel 14 until the sear 58 snaps into the annular groove 96 of the spear. The member 72 now completely surrounds the portion 22 of the valve body and the O-ring 78 prevents the escape of gas between the valve body and the spear.

The housing 38 is then threaded rearwardly slightly to disengage the seat 48 from the gasket 36 and to withdraw the piercing projection 35 from the cartridge. The gas now escapes from the cartridge 40 through the annular space between the housing and the portion 28 of body 20, the radial port 34, and the elongated bore 33, against the rear faces of the piston valve 92 and of spool 85 in the projectile. The gas pressure forces the piston valve off its seat and the piston valve 92 and the spool 85 move forward against the resistance of the coil spring 80. During this forward travel of the piston 92, the water in the hollow projectile in front of the spool 85 is forced through the bore 68 and out of the hole 70 in the plug 62. The forward movement of the spool continues until the forward face of the valve rod 89 engages the plug 62 and covers the rear opening of the passage 68. In this position, the valve rod 89 closes the rear end of the bore 63 and prevents any escape of gas through the hole 70. The valve rod also acts as a stop for the forward movement of the piston 92.

After the elapse of a few seconds, when the pressure has reached the desired amount, the housing 38 is threaded forwardly relative to the valve body 20 thus seating the surface 48 of the housing against the gasket 36 on the valve body, thereby preventing any further escape of gas from the cartridge 40.

The gun is now ready for firing. When a fish or mammal or other target is seen, the gun is fired by pulling the trigger 52 against the pressure of the spring 59, thereby pulling the trigger sear 58 out of the annular groove 96 of the spear. The pressure of the gas in the barrel and in the chamber of the tube 60 propels the elongated spear from the gun. After the spear has left the gun, the gas which is still in the interior of the tube 60 expands through the rear opening thereof, thereby giving the projectile an additional reactionary propelling force.

In the event the operator wishes to reload the spear into the gun while still under water, he merely inserts the spear into the 'barrel of the gun until the sear 58 snaps into the annular groove 96. The housing is then unthreaded to release gas into the interior of the projectile as heretofore described.

Thus, I have provided an underwater gun and a projectile which may be fired through the water with extreme power and accuracy, and the hollow projectile may be easily loaded and reloaded into the gun while submerged.

Although the gun shown herein uses carbon dioxide cartridges or cylinders, as the propelling medium, it is understood that any pressurized gas, such as air, may be use While the invention has been described in connection with a specific embodiment, it will be understood that it is capable of further modification, and this application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention following, in general, the principles of the invention and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within knoWn or customary practice in the art to which the invention pertains and as may be applied to the essential features hereinbefore set forth, and as fall within the scope of the invention or the limits of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In combination, a gas powered underwater gun and a projectile therefor, said projectile being hollow and having a chamber therein, a piston reciprocable in said chamber, spring means constantly urging said piston rearwardly in said chamber to close said chamber at its rear end, and a duct connecting the forward end of said chamber with the exterior of said projectile and through which water may flow out of said chamber when said piston is moved forwardly in said chamber by pressure of gas, said gun comprising a tubular barrel adapted to receive said projectile, means engageable with said projectile to hold said projectile releasably in said barrel, said gun having a chamber for containing gas under pressure, valve means for closing the last-named chamber, said valve means being manually openable to admit gas under pressureagainst said piston to urge said piston forwardly in said chamber in said projectile when said projectile is in said barrel, and a trigger effective when operated to disengage said holding means from said projectile so that the gas will drive the projectile from said barrel.

2. In combination, a gas-powered underwater gun and a projectile therefor, said projectile being hollow and having a chamber therein into which gas under pressure is adapted to be admitted, a member movable forwardly in said chamber upon admission of gas thereto, and a duct connecting said chamber with the exterior of said projectile and through which water may flow out of said chamber when said member is moved forwardly in said chamber by the pressure of gas, said member acting to shut off said duct when said member has been moved forwardly in said chamber a predetermined distance, said gun comprising a tubular barrel adapted to receive said projectile, a chamber for containing gas under pressure, a manually operable valve for closing the last-named chamber, said valve being operable to permit gas under pressure to flow from said last-named chamber into the first-named chamber against said member when said projectile is in said barrel, to force said member forwardly in said first-named chamber, projectile holding means movably mounted in said barrel, spring means urging said holding means into engagement with said projectile to hold said projectile in said barrel when gas is admitted to said first-named chamber, and a trigger means eifective when operated to disengage said holding means from said projectile so that the gas admitted to said first-named chamber will drive the projectile from said barrel.

'3. In combination, a gas-powered gun and a hollow projectile having an opening in the rear end thereof, said gun comprising an elongate tubular barrel, a body mounted in said barrel with its front end terminating rearwardly of the front end of said barrel, said body having a cylindrical projectile Iguiding portion at its front end disposed coaxially of said barrel and having an outside diameter less than the inner diameter of said barrel, said hollow projectile having an annular wall portion at its rear end snugly positioned in said barrel and coaxially surrounding said projectile guiding portion of said body, resilient means interposed between the confronting peripheral surfaces of said annular wall portion and said projectile guiding portion of said body and operative to provide an airtight seal between said last-mentioned surjectile to hold said projectile in said barrel against the pressure of said gas, and a trigger on said gun for releasing said holding means so that the gas in said chamber may drive the projectile from said barrel.

4. In combination, a gas-powered underwater gun and a projectile therefor, said projectile being hollow and having a chamber therein, a piston reciprocable in said chamber, spring means for constantly urging said piston rearwardly in said chamber to close said chamber at its rear end, a duct connecting said chamber with the exterior of said projectile and through which water may be forced from said chamber when said piston is moved forwardly in said chamber by the pressure of gas, said gun comprising an elongated tubular barrel, the front end of which is adapted to receive said projectile, a tubular valve body mounted in said barrel and having :a front portion which terminates rearwardly of the forward end of said barrel and which is in radially spaced relation to the confronting interior wall of said barrel to form an annular space therewith for receiving the rear end of said projectile, said front portion being adapted to enter the rear end of said projectile, when said projectile is in firing position in said barrel, said valve body having a duct communicating with said projectile when said projectile is in firing position, a valve positioned in said barrel for closing the second-named duct, said valve being manually operable to faces, a chamber in said hollow projectile intermediate admit gas through said second-named duct and against said piston to move said piston forwardly in said projectile to permit the gas to flow into said projectile, said duct and projectile together constituting a chamber to hold gas under pressure when said projectile is in firing position, means engageable with said projectile to hold said projectile releasably in said barrel against the pressure of said gas, and a trigger effective when operated to disengage said holding means from said projectile so that the gas will drive the projectile from said barrel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 433,674 DArcy Aug. 5, 1890 1,171,432 Henderson Feb. 15, 1916 2,660,993 Blakeslee Dec. 1, 1953 2,784,712 Cassidy Mar. 12, 1957 2,833,266 Mares May 6, 1958 2,876,577 Brake Mar. 10, 1959 2,923,286 Draganti Feb. 2, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 924,613 France Mar. 10, *1947

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