US2307015A - Pneumatic gun - Google Patents

Description

A. BOYNTON Jan. 5, 1943.

PNEUMATIC GUN Filed April 10, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 ALEXANDER B'OYNTON, INVENTOR,

A TTOQNEY;

Jan. 5, 1943. I BQYNTON v 2,307,015

PNEUMATIC GUN Filed April 10, 1959 I 3 Sheets-Sheet s ALEXANDER BOYNTONJNVENTOR,

I K fii ww Patented Jan. 5, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PNEUMATIC GUN Alexander Boynton, San Antonio, Tex. Application April 10, 1939, Serial No. 267,194 16 Claims. (01. 12411) An object of this invention is to provide a gun I that enables the operator to quickly and accurately regulate the penetrating force of the bullets discharged from it and, at the same time, to control the rate of fire in order to control and subdue mobs and unlawful assemblies by first firing upon them with enough force to hurt and then increasing this force enough to kill if necessary. Such is believed to be an improvement upon the present practice of either firing harmless blank cartridges or maiming and killing with no alternative except to do one or the other.

Another object is to provide an air cooled gun that will not heat and that will discharge a greater number of shots without reloading than can be discharged from any other gun known to the art.

A further object is to provide a machine gun effective at short ranges which is more durable and cheaper to operate than any other known gun.

A still further object is to provide a gun that will accurately throw explosives with the least possible danger of detonation within the gun.

I accomplish the foregoing by means of compressed air or other gas employed to feed bullets out of a magazine, one at a time, and to force them successively against a yieldable ring at the Fig. 5.

least a portion of all other parts, except the front sight assembly.

Fig. 6 is a transverse section on the line 6-6,

Fig. 7 is a transverse section on the line 1-1, Fig.5.

Fig. 8 is a transverse section on the line 8-8, Fi 5.

, Fig. 9 is a transverse section on the line 9-9, Fig. 5. i

Fig. 10 is an isometric view of the forward plunger comprising an element of the invention.

Fig. 11 is an isometric view of the air intake governor.

Similar characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views. Different portions of the same part are referred to by adding a, b, 0, etc. (small letters), to the number employed to designate the part as a whole. A portion of a portion is referred to by adding a numeral to the letter following the characters designating the larger portion. Duplicated .portions of any part are designated by priming the reference letter or numeral for the first duplication, and double priming the same for the second duplication.

Throughout the specification the direction forward is toward the muzzle, and backward is toward the breech and the barrel 2 will be asbreach of the barrel. Each bullet, as it engages the yieldable ring, will be stopped thereby until pressure fluid of suflicient value to force it through the ring builds up behind it. A reservoir in the gun stock is provided of suflicient capacity to store enough pressure fluid to accomplish the expulsion without allowing the pressure to become appreciably depleted before the expulsion is completed.

The rate of fire is determined by the rate that pressure fluid is supplied to the gun and the force with which the gun fires is regulated by the value of the pressure fluid used to operate it and by the resistance offered to the bullets by the yieldable ring which releases them into the gun barrel.

The construction and operation of a gun embodying the invention will appear from the following specification' taken in connection with the drawings inwhich:

Fig. l is a top view of the gun.

Fig. 2 is a front end view of a partial assembly of the gun.

Fig. 3 is a side view of the gun.

Fig. 4 is a rear end view of the gun.

Fig; 5 is'a longitudinal section of a portion of the gun showing all the moving parts and at sumed to be in the horizontal position.

With particular reference to Fig 5, the stock I, preferably a casting, having an internal chamber la, a throat Id, a longitudinal bore Id", and a short traverse bore Id, has a forward boss If within which an internally beveled surface In is opposed and'oppositely inclined to surface 20 of barrel 2 to partially house the yieldable ring 3. The forward end of boss If is formed into a flange l9 behind which the annular trough lk receives the internal flanges 4a and 4'0. of the barrel holder half shells 4 and 4' respectively, the two half shells being held together as a unit by threaded engagement with the barrel holder retaining ring 5 having an internal flange 5b to reinforce the ring, protect the threads 21), and provide stock for the wrench holes 5a.

A lug or key 2A within the key seat 2d of barrel 2 has a snug sliding fit within a slot or key way lm by which key and key way the barrel 2 is restrained from rotating as the barrel holder shell is rotated in its engagement with the external threads 2b upon the barrel immediately forward of lug or key 2A. The front sight 20 and the rear sight I1, therefore, preserve their original align-.

is further secured and supported within an opening Mc through the connection II.

The upper boss Ie is internally. threaded for engagement with the lower boss 6e of the actuator housing 6, the bore 6e being of the same diameter in perfect alignment with the bore Id' and both of said bores being only slightly larger than the diameter of balls 23. The engagement between bosses Ie and Se is made air tight by means of washer or packing IA.

Upwardly extending boss 60 on the actuator housing 6 is externally threaded for engagement with the neck lb of the magazine I, the engagement between boss 60 and neck lb being made airtight by means of washer or packing 6A. The bore 6c, of slightly larger diameter than balls 23, registers with the lower end of bore 'Ic which gradually expands into the reservoir Ia which may be filled with balls 23.

Within the bore 6h. of rear extension 6h of the actuator housing, a rear plunger 8 has an easy working fit, the shoulder 80 of the plunger being resiliently urged in the direction of seat So by coiled spring 9 contacting cap I having ribs IOb through which are the wrench holes Me. This cap is threadedly engaged over the rear end of extension 6h which it hermetically seals by closing upon washer IDA which may be of lead.

It will be noted that the forward portion of the plunger 8 is of reduced diameter at 8a and has a convex front end 8b which contacts the ball 23' to resiliently urge that ball (and each other ball which, in turn, assumes the same place) from backward movement in the bore Ital and tends to hold that ball directly under the one above it in the bore 0 when the shoulder 80 engages upon the seat 69. I

Within the bore 61" of the forward extension 6? the forward plunger II is resiliently urged forward to normally contact the air intake governor I2 by the force of spring 9A resting its rear end upon shoulder 6a and engaging its front end upon the head My which has a close working fit within the bore 67". It should be noted that rear end Ild of reduced diameter engages the ball 23' within a transverse trough Ilc which trough conforms to the shape of the balls.

The circular extension [3a of guide screw I3 contacting washer I3A has a working fit within slot I I j for the purpose of preventing the plunger from rotating. The longitudinal trough Me, which conforms to the surface of the balls, is of such depth as will prevent the ball 23" from engaging upon the rear end of plunger II when ball 23 is forced backward and ball 23 starts down ward as will be explained.

It will further be noted that the distance A between the point that ball 23 rests upon in the position shown and the center line of bore Be is exactly the same as the distance A, the travel of plunger from the position in which it is shown until its shoulder IIa will engage upon the seat 6b, and that each of said distances is exactly the same as the distance A" between the rear plunger 8 and the extension I Ila.

An air intake governor I2, best shown in Fig. 11, fits within the forward end of housing 6 and is provided with the flange I 2c which engages upon the shoulder 61. It will be noted that the circular projection I2b has a loose fit within the central passage IIb through the plunger II and that the length of this engagement is somewhat less than the distance A between shoulder Ila and seat 6b so that the passage III) is unobdiameters.

II is in its rearmost position. The circularly cut away portion I2d enables the feedlngof air from the openings l2a into the passage llb as fast as the projection I 2b will permit when the plunger II is in its forward position. The feeding of air under pressure causes both plungers and the ball 23' to move backward until the ball 23', resiliently held between the plungers, is positioned directly over the upper end'of opening Be. Attention is directed to the fact that openings I20 are of somewhat larger cross sectional area than that of th passage I Ib to provide that an ample supply of compressed air will be fed through them to discharge the bullets as will be explained.

The union clamp I6 has threaded engagement over the forward end of housing 6, the internal flange I6a engaging upon the union shoulder ring I5 having threaded engagement over the forward end of member II. A leak proof engagement is obviously formed by tightening this union upon washer ISA which may be of lead or other soft metallic substance. As the union is tightened, portions of the washer are forced into a double series of depressions 61' upon the front face of forward extension 6 and Md upon the rear face of connection I4. The washer thus answers the purpose of a key to firmly resist any rotation of connection I4 which rotation, if permitted, would disalign the front and rear sights. The opening I4c which snugly receives the untapered rear portion of gun barrel 2, therefore, affords a rigid forward support for the barrel.

The lower end of connection I4 is connected to a quick opening valve 22 having dial graduations 22a. This valve is shown connected to a flexible hose 24 which is in turn connected to a supply of compressed air or other gas.

The front sight 20 is slipped over the end of the barrel lodging against a shoulder, and set screw 2| engaging within a recess in the gun barrel secures the sight upon the barrel as shown.

The rear sight I! has a square shank IIa intermediate of its two threaded portions of different This square shank fits snugly within an elongated rectangular opening Ic through the fin Ib, the elongated circular opening Ip being to accommodate the vertical movement of the enlarged threaded portion IIb of rear sight II. By backing ofi nut I9 upon the portion I10 and screwing nut I8 to the right on portion IIb the sight I! may be moved to the right. By a very similar adjustment nut I8 may be backed off and nut I9 screwed to the right in order to move sight I! to the left. If the sight be moved to the right the adjustment is locked by nut I9, or it moved to the left the adjustment is locked by nut I8. The opening in the flanged end I 90 of nut I9 is to receive the square shank Ila of sight I! in case that portion should extend beyond the left side of the fin in adjusting the sight horizontally. The rear sight may be adjusted vertically by moving the square shank I'Ia upward or downward within the elongated rectangular opening I0 and tightening the nuts I8 and I9 upon the fin I b as is apparent in Fig- 9.

The opening lb of boss I a is to receive a' flexible rod upon which the gun may be mounted, the exact direction of aim being accomplished by rotating the gun upon this rod for horizontal direction, and by flexing the rod for vertical direction; the lower end of the rod being fastened to the I floor of a motor driven vehicle such as a tank,

structed except by ball 23' when the plunger truck, or tractor equipped with a compressor or reservoir of chemicals for the purpose of supplying compressed air or other gas underv pressure The reservoir la being filled with a supply of bullets and compressed air under 1000 lbs. per square inch compression for example is assumed to be in the line 24. The handle 22b is turned until the indicator points at 4 half way opening the valve 22. Compressed air rushing through the opening Ma and shunted passage I4b explodes, so to speak, against the head I lg which has a close working fit within the bore 67". Plunger II is driven backward landing its shoulder Ila upon seat 6b, at the same time pushing ball 23' backward in the passage id to a point directly over the upper end of passage 6e at which point the extension Illa of cap l0 stops the,

' before it stops upon shoulder 6b, draws away from the projection I2b far enough to completely open the passag llb. The 1000 lbs. of compressed air drives the ball through the passages 6e, Id, and Id" to the dotted position 23a where it is momentarily arrested by the yieldable ball release ring 3. This ring is adjustably compressed between the bevels In and 26 so that 970 lbs.'per square inch, for example, of compressed air will be required to force the ball through the passage thus restricted and into bore 2a. The engagement between the ball 23' (now in the position 23a) and ring 3 is leak proof.

Pressure entering through the throat Id, narrower than the balls one way and much wider the other way, quickly builds up within the chamber la, the path of air fiow into the chamber being through passage I lb, slot I If, passages 6e, Id, and throat Id until the pressure in chamber la reaches 970 lbs. The ball 23' is then driven through the restricted passage in yieldable ring 3 and out of bore 211 in barrel.

It may be assumed that the springs 9 and 9A require 40 lbs. per sq. in. to begin compressing them from their position shown in Fig. 5 and that they build up 10 lbs. per sq. in. in compressing the distance A. The springs are, therefore, assumed to be installed under a compression equal to four times the distance A. Springs 9 and 9 A, therefore, being returning the plungers 8 and II to their forward positions at 950 lbs. per sq. in. pressure, and complete the return at 960 lbs. pressure. The plungers 8 and II therefore will be returned to their original positions when the pressure acting against them is 10 lbs. less than the 970 lbs. assumed to be required to expel the ball.

The clearance between the extension I21) and the passage IIb is such as will allow suflicient air to quickly pass through it; thence through the slot ll! back of screw extension l3a; around ball 23" (now moved to the position occupied by ball 23' in Fig. 5); and by the forward portion 8a of the plunger 8, to build up the other 10 lbs. making the 970 lbs. in chamber Ia necessary to expel the ball 23'. When the plungers return to their original positions as shown in Fig. 5, 'ball 23" drops to the position previously occupied by ball 23' as above indicated. The

cycle described automatically repeats as long as balls and air under the assumed pressure are available.

Plungers 8 and II are stopped far enough apart by their respective seats to admit a ball between their proximate ends. In this manner each'ball as it, in turn, assumes position between these plungers is held directly beneath the column of balls above it or permitted to roll slightly backward. This is to prevent the ball 23 (or any other ball which later assumes its position) from rolling forward in the bore 5d. If the ball should be allowed to roll forward (toward plunger I I) in the bore 6d the other balls in the column above it would settle and remain. in contact with it. It could not then be driven backward by plunger II without slightly raising all the other balls in the column, and consequently, moving every other ball within the reservoir. The plunger extension lld should, therefore, be long enough to hold the ball 23' from any possible movement away from the passage 6e. Whatever slight clearance, in addition to the exact diameter of the balls, is allowed between the plunger ends, should be left between the ball 23' and the plunger extension So so that each ball at the base of the colunm, when it moves out of column, will move toward the opening 6e.

When the ball 23' is driven backward by the plunger II, as was explained, the ball 23" above itmoves slightly downward keeping in contact with ball 23' until the ball 23" is stopped from further downward movement by longitudinal trough lle into which it settles as it loses contact with ball 23'. The ball 23" rides in this trough until the plunger II returns to the position shown in Fig. 5, when this ball drops to the position between the plungers, whence it. follows the preceding ball in its path to the muzzle, as was explained.

It should be understood that, when the chamber la is filled with compressed air, pressure is also building up in the ball reservoir 10.. This pressure acts to force the ball 23" down into place within the passage 6d as soon as the plungers have opened the place by assuming their normal positions as shown in Fig. 5.

A lubricant such as powdered graphite or a mixture of graphite and a liquid that will not disintegrate the yieldable ring 3 may be placed in the reservoir Id with the balls or otherwise brought into contact with them and the opening through ring 3.

Obviously a wide range of pressures, spring l forces, and ball release adjustments may be used,

the pressure, spring force, and ball release adjustment assumed in the foregoing example being 'merely for illustration.

If it is desired to increase or decrease th rate of fire, the opening through the valve 2 may be properly increased or decreased. If the passage through ring 3 should wear or if it is desired to increase the pressure at which the bullets will be discharged and, of course, at the same time to increase the force of the bullets, the barrel may be moved rearwardly by turning barrel holder 5 to the left (assuming the threads to be right handed). This compresses the yieldable ring between surfaces In and 2c and thereby reduces the diameter of the passage through the ring, thus requiring more force to drive the balls through it, as is apparent. Screwing ring 5 in the opposite direction will, of course, accomplish the opposite result.

Ring 5 and half shells 4 and 4, constituting ditions being equal, if this space be only half as great pressure will build up'or drop within it twice as fast, thus doubling the rate of fire. It is also apparent that doubling the space In will produce the opposite result. In this connection it will be noted that the size of the space In. and the extent of opening valve 22 may be used separately or together to increase or reduce the rate of fire. It is, therefore, apparent that by employing both means great extremes of speed or slowness of fire may be accomplished.

In connection with the rapid fire feature it should be further noted that with the assumed pressure and spring forces there is a comparatively slight pressure fluctuation in the chamber la, the gun firing at 970 lbs. and the plunger ll going back to the cycle starting position shown in Fig. upon relatively small drop in pressure. It will be realized that this drop in pressure within the chamber la will be almost instantaneous after each ball is discharged due to the rapid escape of air under high pressure through the open bore 2a until the escape is interrupted by another ball appearing in the dotted position 2341..

The difference between the force required to begin compressing the springs 9 and 9A and the force required to complete the compression the distance A determines the difference in pressures obtaining within the chamber la during the firing operation. If these springs are installed to compress the distance A at 5 lbs. per sq. in., retaining the same force of 40 lbs. to begin the compression, the gun will fire on a variation of 5 lbs. in the chamber la.

Reducing the differential between the maximum and minimum pressures in the chamber la not only increases the rate of fire, other conditions being equal, but also reduces the energy consumed in the firing operation.

In rapid fire the yieldable ring 3 will not be destroyed by heat due to the friction of the balls in rapidly flexing this member because of the frigid temperatures produced by the rapidly expanding air at that point.

Magazine shell I is preferably cast in two parts which may be welded together at Id or otherwise hermetically joined, The shell so cast in two parts can be machined inside to provide a smooth surface for the balls to roll upon as they move downward. This smooth surface and the vibration produced by firing overcome the danger of the balls bridging or becoming impacted upon any peripheral unevenness that might result from the use of an unfinished casting. The balls will, therefore, be fed to the barrel regularly and without interruption during the firing operation.

Attention is called to the novel and important fact that this gun can be completely assembled or taken apart with a nail or rod of suitable size applied in holes 4b, 4'b, 5a, Illc, 12a, and IE2) which holes may, for greater convenience, all be of the same size.

The foregoing specification, drawings, and appended claims are intended to set forth the invention as fully as may be done within the limits What is claimed is: 1. A pneumatic gun comprising a stock, a barrel secured thereto, said stock and barrel having a passage for conducting bullets fired from the gun, means forming a pressure chamber communicating with said passage, a restriction in said passage, an actuator housing attached to the stock and having a passage communicating with the first mentioned passage, a source of pressure fiuid connected to the actuator housing, and means within said housing for successively feeding bullets to said passages at a rate dependent upon the pressure rate of admission of pressure fluid tothe housing.

2. A pneumatic gun comprising a stock having a compression chamber therein, a barrel secured to said stock and having a bore for the passage of bullets therethru, said stock having a passage from said chamber to said bore, a restriction in said passage, an actuator housing attached to said stock and having a passage communicating with said first mentioned passage, a source of pressure fiuid connected to said actuator housing, and means within said housing operable by the pressure fluid from said source for successively introducing bullets from within the actuator housing to the first mentioned passage.

3. In a pneumatic gun the combination of a stock having a passage adapted to conduct a bullet to be ejected under fluid pressure from the gun, a barrel, an enlargement in said passage to receive the end of the barrel and form an annular chamber between the barreland stock, a resilient constriction forming a ring within said chamber,

and means for adjustably positioning the end of the barrel within said enlargement to vary the extent of constriction produced by said ring.

4. A bullet feeding mechanism for pneumatic guns comprising, a housing having a longitudinal bore therein, transverse offset passages entering said bore, spaced seats in said bore on opposite sides of said passages, opposed plungers within the bore adapted to engage said seats, means resiliently holding said plungers with their ends in spaced relation adjacent one of said passages to receive a bullet therebetween from one of said passages, and pneumatically operated means for moving the plungers longitudinally of the housing to move the bullet to the other of said passages.

5. A bullet feeding mechanism for pneumatic guns comprising a housing having a bore therein, a transverse passage within said housing for conducting bullets into said bore, a transverse discharge passage from said bore, said discharge passage being oifset from the first mentioned passage, and pneumatically actuated plunger means within the bore for successively transferring bullets to the discharge passage.-

6. A bullet feeding mechanism for pneumatic guns comprising a housing having a bore therein and a discharge passage transversely of the bore, means for admitting an actuating pressure fluid to the housing, means for feeding bullets into said bore, and a plunger operable by the actuattherein, a barrel secured to said stock and having a bore for the passage of a bullet therethrough, said stock having a. passage between said chamber and said bore, an actuator housing attached to said assembly and having a passage communicating with said first mentioned passage, a magazine attached to the actuator housing and adapted to supply projectiles to the interior of said housing, a source of pressure fluid connected to the housing, and means within the housing the bore, spaced plungers in said bore adapted to receive a bullet therebetween at a point in spaced relation with said passage, and means for supplying a fluid pressure to the interior of said bore to move the plungers and deliver the bullet within the discharge passage.

9. A pneumatic gun comprising a stock, a barrel secured thereto, said stock and barrel having a passage for conducting bullets fired from the gun, means forming a pressure chamber connected to said passage, an actuator housing having a bore and a discharge passage transversely of the bore, said discharge bore communicating with said first mentioned passage, spaced plung ers in said bore adapted to receive a bullet therebetween at a point normally spaced from the discharge passage, and means for supplying a pressure fluid to the interior of the bore to move the plungers whereby the bullet is delivered to the discharge passage.

10. A pneumatic gun including a stock, a barrel removably secured thereto, a bore for bullets axially through said barrel, a yieldable ring in said stock at the breech end of said barrel, said ring being adapted to releasably hold bullets, each in succession of the other for expulsion through said barrel, a feeder passage for bullets in said stock, said passage being aligned with said bore, a reservoir for pressure fluid in said stock, a restricted opening in said stock, said opening communicating between said reservoir and said feeder passage, an actuator housing attached to said stock and having a transverse bullet feeder opening communicating with the bullet feeder passage in said stock, a magazine for bullets attached to said actuator housing, an opening for bullets out of said magazine, said opening being offset with said bullet feeder opening of said housing and both of said openings being large enough to allow for pressure fluid to flow past said bullets and into said magazine, an axial opening through said housing, said axial opening being transverse of said offset openings, a rear plunger in said axial opening, said plunger being urged forward by a spring, a forward plunger in said axial opening, said plunger being urged forward by another spring, so that a bullet impinged between said plungers will be moved backward through a portion of said axial opening into registration with the bullet feeder opening of said housing when said plungers are forced backward-a conductor means for pressure fluid connected to one end of said housing, a valve controlling pressure fluid in said conductor, said fluid being to force backward said plungers and the impinged bullet until the bullet moves in registration with said bullet feeder opening of said housing and to force the bullet through said feeder opening and into sealing contact with said yieldable ring and to force the bullet through said ring' and bore after said pressure fluid has built up to a predetermined value within said reservoir, and means for restraining the forward movement of said flrst plunger so that another bullet will be forced into said axial opening by pressure fluid in said magazine when said second plunger moves forward, the force of the spring urging said second plunger being somewhat,

greater than the force required to expel either of said bullets through said ring in order that said forward plunger will assume its extreme forward position and admit another bullet into said axial opening before each remaining of said bullets is expelled.-

11. A pneumatic gun comprising a barrel having an axial bore for balls, a chamber communicating with said bore, a yieldable ring surrounding the bore at the breech end of said barrel, said ring being adapted to be sealably and releasably engaged by balls in succession of each other, a plunger housing having therein two plungers in spaced relation to each other, means for resiliently urging each of the plungers toward one end of the housing, a magazine attached to said housing, and having an opening for passage of balls therefrom, there being a passage from said opening communicating with said bore and having an off-set for balls through said housing, said off-set being adapted to temporarily restrain each ball in succession between said plungers, and a conduit for pressure fluid connected to one end of said housing, said housing and plungers being so constructed and arranged the pressure fluid entering through said conduit successively moves such restrained balls into a continuation of said passage to contact said ring and to force the balls therethrough and out of said bore when said fluid builds up to a predetermined value in said chamber.

12. A pneumatic gun including a stock having a reservoir and a passage communicating between said reservoir and the exterior of said stock, a barrel secured to said stock and having an axial bore for balls to pass therethrough, said bore having communication with said reservoir, a yieldable ring in said stock at the breech end of said barrel, said ring being adapted to be sealably and releasably engaged by balls each in succession of the other, an assembly including a plunger housing having therein two plungers in spaced relation to each other, each being resiliently urged forward by a spring, there being an opening for balls transverse of said housing, said opening having an offset therein, a magazine attached to said housing and having communication with said opening at its outer end, the off-set in said opening being adapted to temporarily restrain each ball in succession between said plungers, a conduit for pressure fluid connected to said housing, said assembly being so constructed and arranged as to successively move such restrained balls into the continuation of said transverse opening to contact said ring and to force said balls therethrough and out of said bore when said fluid builds up to a predetermined value in said reservoir, and means for varying the rate of admission of pressure fluid to said housing to control the rate of firing said gun.

13. A pneumatic gun including a stock containing a reservoir, a barrel secured to said stock and having an axial bore for balls, said bore having communication with said reservoir, a yieldable ring in said stock at the breechend of said barrel, said ring being adapted to be sealably and releasably engaged by balls in succession of each other, a plunger housing having two plungers axially disposed therein in spaced relation to each other, means for resiliently urging each of said plungers forwardly in the housing, a transverse opening for balls through said housing, a magazine attached to said housing and having an opening communicating with said transverse opening and with said bore and said reservoir, there being an ofl-set in the passage for balls through said housing, said ofi-set being adapted to temporarily restrain each ball in succession between said plungers, a conduit for pressure fluid connected to one end of said housing to admit pressure fluid to move said plungers and successively move such restrained balls into a continuation of said opening to contact said ring and to force the same therethrough and out of said bore when said fluid builds up to a predetermined value in said reservoir. a manually operated valve in said conduit to regulate the rate of pressure fluid fiow therethrough, and means for varying the rate of firing said gun by varying the rate of pressure fluid inflow thereto.

14. A pneumatic gun including astock containing a reservoir, a barrel secured to said stock and having an axial bore for balls, said bore having communication with said reservoir, a yieldable ring in said stock at the breech end of said barrel, said ring being adapted to be sealably and releasably engaged by balls in succession of each other, a I plunger housing having two plungers axially disposed therein in spaced relation to each other, spring means for urging each of said plungers forwardly in the housing, a magazine attached to said housing and having an opening for balls outv of said magazine, said opening communicating with said transverse opening and with said bore, there being an of!- setin the passage for balls through said housing, said ofiset being adapted to temporarily restrain each ball in succession between said plungers, a conduit for pressure fluid connected to one end of said of said housing to admit pressure fluid to move said plungers and successively move such restrained balls into a continuation of said opening to contactsaid ring and to force the same therethrough and out of said bore when said fluid builds up to a predetermined value in said reservoir, and means for varying the force of said'balls by compressing said ring so as to diminish the diameter of the opening therethrough.

15. A pneumatic gun including a stock containing a reservoir, a barrel secured to said stock and having an axial bore for balls, said bore having communication with said reservoir, a yieldable ring in said stock at the breech end of said barrel, said ring being'adapted to be sealably and releasably engagedby balls in succession of each other, a plunger housing having two plungers axially disposed therein in spaced relation to each other, a spring urging each of the plungers forwardly in the housing, there being a transverse opening for balls through said housing, a magazine attached to said housing and having an opening for balls out oi said magazine, said opening communicating with said transverse opening and with said bore and said reservoir, there being an ofi-set in the passage for balls through said housing, said'oiI-set being adapted to temporarily restrain each ball in succession between said plungers, a conduit for pressure fluid connected to one end of said housing to admit pressure fluid and move said plungers to successively move such restrained balls into a continuation of said opening to contact said ring and to force the same therethrough and out 01 said bore when said fluid builds up to a predetermined value in said reservoir, a manually operated valve in said conduit to regulate the rate of pressure fluid flow therethrough, means for varying the rate or firing said gun by varying the rate of pressure fluid inflow thereto, and means for varying the force of said balls by compressing said ring so as to vary the diameter of the opening therethrough.

16. In a gun, a housing, a stock, means for feeding bullets through a transverse opening in the housing to the breech end of a barrel connected to a stock, said bullets being fed in column formation through an opening communicating between said magazine and housing attached thereto, closure means for one end of said housing', a spring in said housing, said spring yieldably engaging a plunger slidable in the housing, means in said housing for limiting the travel of said plunger, an axial extension of said plunger, another plunger in the other end of said housing, said other plunger having an axial opening therethrough, means for varying the size of said opening in different positions of said plunger, another spring in said housing, said spring being adapted to yieldably urge said second plunger away from the first plunger, means for restraining said second plunger from rotation within said housing, pressure means connected to the other end of said housing for moving said second plunger, the end bullet of said column, and said first plunger to engage said first plunger with one of said means for limiting its travel when said end bullet is in registration with said transverse opening, means actuated by pressure fluid for expelling said end bullet from said housing through said opening, and means in said housing to engage the next bullet in said column between said plungers after each previous bullet has been forced from the housing.

ALEXANDER BOYNTON.

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