US2299073A

US2299073A - Gun

Info

Publication number: US2299073A
Application number: US301440A
Authority: US
Inventors: William F Beasley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1939-10-26
Filing date: 1939-10-26
Publication date: 1942-10-20
Anticipated expiration: 1959-10-20

Description

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 20, 1942. w. F. BEAsLEY GUN Filed oct. 2e. 193s lill N .1H -n nu IFI @lull N lTLvET-LJL En" v EEE-[1511522 vne 5 w N", om n m lmw mm m 1 D .T n A S E u 4.234,3 )4. Hl. A Nn nl WWE Oct. 20, 1942. w. F. BEASLEY GUN Filed 061;. 26, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 35121151 Nyazy Att 1-Hna s b Wi liuzm, Fl

Patented ct. 20, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GUN William F.'Beasley, Columbus, Ohio Application October 26, 1939, Serial llo- 301,440

13 Claims. (Cl. 124-11) (Granted under the' act of March 3, 1883, as

amended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Goverment for governmental purposes, without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to an air gun that may be physically embodied in the form of either a rifle or pistol.

It is an object of the invention to materially increase the unit working pressure of the compressed air utilized as the propelling force for the projectiles as compared with tbe unit Working pressures heretofore employed in theart for this purpose.

It is a further object of the invention to greatly increase the mean effective unit'pressure ofthe compressed air utilizedl as the propelling force for propelling a projectile from the gun by employing an increased maximum unit working pressure.

It is still afurther object of the invention to provide a compound stage compressor for developing the high unit ,pressures used in the air gun of this invention adapted to be manually actuated with minimum effort and through a minimum number of cycles to develop the desired pressure.

It is a still further object of the invention to employ a compound compressor wherein the ilnal stage of the compressor also serves as an airy reservoir for holding the compressed air propelling charge until released to propel a chambered projectile through the bore of the barrel.r

listic performance approaching that of powder` type firearms; to provide for economy of fabriposition of the toggle shows it in its forward position in the compressor actuating cycle;

Fig. 1A shows an enlarged detail of the main operating valve;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view partiallyin elevation and partially in section showing a modifi- -cation which employs the barrel as one link of the toggle used for actuating the compressor. The full line position of the barrel shows it in its forward position of the compressor actuating cycle while the chain line position of the barrel shows it in its normal firing position;

Fig.. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig; 4 is a fragmentary view partially in elevation and partially in section showing a further modication lin which the compressor toggle is disposed on the top side of the barrel. The toggle is shown in normal' position of firing in full lines and in its forward position in the compressor actuating cycle in chain lines;

Figs. 5, 6 and '7 are sectional views taken on the lines 5-5, 6 6, and 1-1 of Fig. 4, respectively, looking in the ldirection of the arrows;

Figs. 8 and 9 are modifications of valves suitable foruse with the compressor. Y

Referring now to the drawings by characters of reference, and more particularly to Fig. 1, there is shown the stock portion .III of an air gun embodying thisinvention provided with a suitably recessed or bed portion II adapted to seat the gun receiver frame or casting I2 and low pressure cylinderv of a lcompound orother multiple 'stage compressor generally indicated at.v

. adapted to engage andA be seated onthe correspondng inclined portion of the bed Il of the stock. Conveniently-the frame I2 may be removably secured to the stock I0 in any conventional manner, as by the interiorly threaded boss I5 formed on the .rear face of the frame and rod I6 interthreaded with the boss and secured to the stock. Intermediate its upper and lower faces the casting i 2 is suitably formed to provide a longitudinal cylindrical passage I1 interiorly threaded adjacent its forward end as indicated at l for a purpose hereinafter more specically referred to.

The compressor t3 shown is ofthe two stage type, although it will be obvious that any desirable multi-stage compressor may be adapted to the purpose. As shown the comprsor comprises a low pressure cylinder l5 of any suitable substance capable of taking a high polish and resisting oxidation or other corrosion and is seatedinthebed ll ofthestockllanddemountably secured to the frame l2 at its rear end through interthreaded engagement with the threads l5. At its forward or muzzle end the low pressure cylinder l5 is closed by an end closure cap 25 secured to the cylinder in any convenient fluid sealed relation and the cap is provided with an air intake port 2l communicating with atmosphere through the intake passage 22 controlled by a conventional spring actuated or similar one-way valve 23 preferably of the type having a Duprene or like plastic seat for the valve element. In the form of the invention shown in Fig. l valve 23 is a spring actuated valve having a spring 24 assembled in the seated position of the valve member 25 to have an initial compression substantially equal to the weight of the member whereupon the member 25 may be displaced from its normal seat arainst the action of spring 24 by atmospheric pressure.

The low pressure cylinder l! is rectilineally slotted through its lower surface from its rear or breech end to a point intermediate its forward or muzzle end and medial portion as indicated at 25 for a purpose made clear hereinafter and is closed at its breech end by a somewhat elongated plug 21 of generallycircular section throughout its length- The plug 21 is formed to have a body portion 28 of an outside diameter of such dimension as to snugly iit within the breech end of cylinder I9 in circumferential engaging relation and has an integral exteriorly threaded nipple 23 of reduced diameter protruding from its muzzie end axially of the cylinder IS. Rearwardly of the body portion 23 the plug 21 is formed to have an annular portion 23' of increased diameter and in which seats for the Neoprene or similar gaskets 35 and 3l are provided. The body portion 28 of the plug 21 is longitudinally bored from its breech end as indicated at 32 to form a housing for the main valve 33 hereinafter more specifically referred to, and is interiorly threaded inwardly from its breech end on a slightly increased diameter to provide a seat for a gasket 34 of material similar to the gaskets 35 and 3l which is interposed between its seat and a valve stem bushing 35 secured within the bore in interthreaded relation and having a rearwardly extending protrusion 35. The nipple 23 is axially bored'as indicated at 31 to communicate with the valve housing portion 32 and the plug 21 is removably retained in frame l2 in operable relation with cylinder l5 by a lock nut or similar removable fastening means. 3l centrally apertured to receive the protrusion 35 and exteriorly threaded for interthreaded engagement with cooperating interior threads in passage I1 in abutting engagement with the rear or breech faces of the plug 21 and body of the valve stem bushing 35. For expedient insertion and removal of the fastening means 38 the stock 33 surrounding the aperture for protrusion 35 may be formed to receive anysutablewrench or tool. To insure fluid tight joints between atmosphere and the valve housing 32 by way of the valve stem bushing 35 the

gaskets

35 and 3| are interposed between their respective seats in the plug 21 and the end of cylinder 13 and inner face of means 35. respectively, likewise the gasket 34 is interposed betweenrvalve stem bushing 35 and the portion of bore 32 of reduced diameter for a similar purpose. In practice, in order to obviate the non-uniform deformation ofV gasket 35, which would be eiected by directly abutting the gasket against the end of cylinder l! due to the slot 25, 'it is preferable to insert an annulus 45 of slightly less outside diameter than the diameter of cylinder l5 between the end of the cylinder and gasket 35.

Disposed within 'the cylinder I3 for reciprocal movement is a piston 4l'and tubular piston rod 42 having its axis coincident with the axis of cylinder I3 while any piston suitable for the purpose may be used, for convenience of illustration the piston 4I is shown as comprising a cylindrical insert 43 inserted within the muzzle end of the piston rod 42 in any fluid sealed manner and as having a pesage 44, controlled by a spring or other suitably actuated one-way valve 45, intercommunicating between the low pressure chamber 45 of low pressure cylinder I 3 and the interior of the piston rod 42 which is utilized as a high pressure cylinder. To establish a iluid seal between the skirt` of the piston and cooperating walls of the chamber 45 the piston is provided with a cup leather 41 treated with tallow, tanalin or a suitable lubricating oil and retained in position on the piston skirt by opposedy

retaining elements

45 and 43. In lieu of the cup leather 41 the substitution of washers of synthetic composition as is presently used commercially in oil seals and such for example as shown in U. S. Patent No. 2,099,241 to the Garlock Packing Co., is contemplated. Valve 45 is designed to admit passage of air compressed in chamber 45 into the interior of the piston rod 42 but will not permit passage of air in the reverse direction. At the breech or rear end of the pistonrod 42 is secured a cross-head 55, as by the interthreaded or equivalent engagement 5I. .l'he cross-head 55 is formed with an interiorly threaded boss 52 for remotely receiving a lug 53 adapted to slide in the slot 25 of cylinder I3, and has sleeved thereover a fibrous or other suitable relatively soit tubular member 54 which engages the interior surface of cylinder I3 for guiding the cross-head in movement axially of the cylinder.

For actuating the piston 4l, piston rod 42 and cross-head 5I, a, toggle linkage is employed which comprises a link 55 of U-shape in crosssection pin connected at one end, as by the pin 55, to a pointadjacent the muzzle end of cylinder l! which may conveniently be a bifurcated depending ear 51 made integral with the end closure cap 25. the pin 55 the link 55 is provided with a hand grasp 55 preferably of the same material as the stock l5 and formed so as in its normal position, as shown in full lines in Fig. l, to constitute a pleasing continuation of the contour of stock Il and proper balance of the weapon. A second link 53 of generally rectangular or other suitable section shape in cross-section is connected by the pin 5I at one end to link 55 intermediate the ends of the latter and in such manner as to jack-knie between the sides of link 55 in the normal position of the links, shown in full lines in Adjacent its end remote from be formed to havea bifurcated depending integral ear 62.

Within the tubular piston rod 42 and disposed axiallyA of cylinder I9 is a stationary tubular V member 63 secured at its breech or rear end to the nipple 29 in interthreaded relation and provided at its forward or muzzle end with piston 64 secured within thetubular member in uid sealed relation and havinga passage 85 leading from the interior of piston rod- 42-to the interior of member 63 controlled by the spring actuated one-way valve 66. The piston 64 is sealed with respect to the cooperating interior surface of piston rod 42 by means of washers 61 of a material similar to the washer 41 secured to the piston in fluid sealed engagement with the interior of piston rod 42 and retained in position thereon between the houslng'32. A cylindrical valve cage 82 counterfixed annular abutment 68, which also serves to position the piston within tubular member 63, ,and removable-retaining fastener 69. Valve 661s ysimilar to valves 23 and 4 5- and has a valve core 10 threaded in the passage 65 and-a spring loaded seat 1| formed of Duprene or similar plastic material normally engaging the exit of the passage in the core. As will be4 obvious from inspeci compressed fluid from the interior of the piston rod 42 thereby but will prevent passage of air y in the reverse direction.

In order to keep the air compressed within the piston rod 42 from expanding after passage through valve 66 and to provide a storage reservoir in cooperation with vthe main valve housing 32 a tubular conduit 12 vof relatively small diameter is extended between the bore 31 of nipple 29 and passage 65 axially of cylinder I9 and in fluid sealed relation with the bore and paage,

respectively. l

Adjacent its upper face the frame i2 is formed with a second longitudinal cylindrical passage 13 in parallel relation with passage I1 and in the forward portion of this passage the rear end of the barrel 14 is inserted and secured by the removable fastening device 15. The barrel is disposed in parallel relation with the cylinder` I9 and is conveniently supported at its muzzle end by a perforated supporting lug 16 made' integral with the end closure cap 20. As will be understood by those skilled in the art the lbarrel 14 may be rifled at a predetermined twist to impart suilicient rotation to a pellet or` projectile forced therethrough for insuring stability of flight of the pellet through its trajectory.

As shown in Fig. 1 the lower wall defining the chamber` 11 of the barrel, the portion of frame I2 intermediate the passages I1 and 13 below chamber 11, the plug 21 and the valve stem bushing are formed with registering apertures which denne a substantially vertical air conduit 18 leading from the chamber 11 of the barrel to the valve housing 32 through 'the horizontal passubstantially iiuid sealed relation within the passage 19 located in the valve stem-bushing 35 and protrusion 38 thereof. The valve stem 80 is formed with an axially arranged portion 8| of re,- duced diameter and is' so proportioned that the reduced portion 8|will underlie the passage 18 in al1 operable positions and project into the valve bored at one end to receive a plastic valve element 83 of desirable characteristics vof deformation under high unit pressures, such as "Neoprene of relatively high durometer test is axially bored and mounted through its bore on the reduced portion 8| of the valve stem 80`with the element 83A confronting the mouth of passage 19. Any

conventional means may. be employed to secureV rvalve cage 82 and nipple 29 under' assembled initial compression suilicient to normally retain the valve element 83 in eective sealed relation with the face lof annular valve seat 84. The reduced valve steam 8| does not completely protrude through the valve cage 82 whereby leakage of air around the stem is obviat'ed. As will be noted in the enlarged detail of the main valve 33 the end of the valve cage 82 adjacent the end of bushing 35 is arranged to have a predetermined clearance coordinated with the deformation of valve element 83 by valve seat 84. By this arthat such embodiment be limitative. it has .been

found convenient to mount the hollow plunger or striker 89 of the firing mechanism within the rear portion of passage 13 for sliding movement and to then mount the bolt with its rear portion within the plungerl and provide a collar 90 on the rear end of the bolt in engaging relation with comprises a valve stem 89 reciprocally disposed in 75 projectile or pellet 95.

the interior of the plunger for the purpose of guiding the bolt in its rotary and sliding movement. forward end of the plunger may be provided with the perforated closure 9| disposed as shown. A bolt head having a cylindricalbody 92 and conical seat 93 of such included angle as to form a ,seal with the breech of the barrel chamber in the locked position of the bolt is formed on the forward end thereof and terminates in an axial finger 94 which functions to properly chamber a The receiver frame portion through which the passageA 13 is formed is cutaway adjacent the breech of the barrel to facilitate access to the barrel chamber for insertion of projectiles 96 and to form a locking shoul-V der 98 at the forward end ofthe cam slot88 for engagement by the bolt handle 81 to hold the bolt in locking position with the conical surface 9.3 in sealed relation with the chamber against the pressure of compressed air or other fluid' admitted to the chamber. e A spiral spring or other To further steady and guide the bolt the resilient element 31 is interposed between the collar 90 on the bolt and closure 3| on the plunger and is designed 'to be suiiiciently compressed in the retracted position of the plunger as to drive the plunger forwardly when released from the retracted position, with such velocity as to impart a sharp blow to any obstruction lying in its path of movement a, relatively short distance away. f

A removable cylindrical insert 31' having its rear end 38 formed on a contour mating with the contour of stock I and formed intermediate its ends with a .transverse through opening 33 is axially apertured from the forward end to the transverse opening and inserted within the rear portion of passage |1 with the axial aperture receiving the protrusion 36 of valve stem bushing 35 and its forward face abutting 4the rear face of stock portion 33 of fastening means 33. The insert 91' is retained in position with its Ycontoured rear end-98 forming a continuation of the contour retracted position by the sear. Optionally, a pellet 35 may be ehambered, after the bolt is opened, and the bolt closed to properly seat the pellet through the action of finger 34 and to seal the breech end of the chamber through interengagement of the conical seat 33 with the breech endofthechamberorthisphaseofthebolt operation may be performed subsequent to operation of the compressor. In either sequence of operation of the bolt it is locked with handle 81 4engagililg' shoulder 36.

Assuming that a pellet has been chambered l and the` bolt locked the operator next grasps of stock I0 by any desirable fastening expedient such as means |33. An angular sear spring IM having one of its legs secured to the insert 91' rearwardly of opening 33 and its other leg de pending in the opening 33 carries a sear |02 adapted to engage and retain the plunger B'in the retracted position shown in Fig. 1 against the inuence of spring 31. The insert 91 is formed with a clearance space |03 adjacent the leg of the scar spring secured thereto to provide for displacement of the spring to disengage the sear from the plunger. A ring lever IM is pivoted at its lower end in the passage 99 between the protruding end of valve stem 83 and depending leg of the sear spring in such manner that the lvalve stem 33 will normally urge the firing lever into .its normal rearward position adjacent the scar spring. The upper end of the firing lever is extended through a slot in the web of frame I2 separating passages |1 and 13 and lies in the path of movement of plunger I3 so' as to receive a sharp impact from the plunger upon release of the latter from its retracted position. A transverse opening |35 is extended from the lower face I4 of frame |2 into passage |1111 communicating relation with the opening 33 in insert 91 and a similar opening is formed in 'stock Il communicating with the frame opening to provide for the mounting of the trigger |33 in the frame, which inthe form shown is of the bell crank type having one arm engaged with the depending leg of sear' spring |3| and the other arm extending without stock |D.

In the disclosure of l sights for the weapon have not been shown, however, 'the use of any conventional sighting system properly calibrated to the weapon is contemplated and as such system forms no part of the present inventionit is not thought essential to disclose the system.

In operation of the weapon the bolt handle s1 is rotated and retracted through ure cam slot ,at atmospheric pressure.

the hand grasp 53 and swings it from its full line position shown in Fig. 1 through the chain line position thereof which pivots the link 55 about its pin connection 53 and displaces the link 53 forwardly through its position also shown in chain lines. Forward movement of link 53 slides the cross-head i3, attached piston rod I2,

and piston 4| forwardly to end closure cap 23 and the piston 4| compresses the airinitially confined in chamber I3 .by one-way valve 23 The air so compressed in chamber Ii is forced through the one-way valve in piston 4| into the space or chamber within piston rod 32 between the piston 4| and stationary piston Sl of predetermined smaller volume than the-full volumetric capacity of chamber 46. After completion of the forward phase of the operating cycle of the compressor the hand grasp 53 is returned to its normal position shown in full lines in Fig. 1. Return of the hand grasp 58 to its normal position likewise restores the toggle linkage to/its initial position which returns the cross-.head 33, piston rod'l2 and piston 4| to the position shown in Fig. 1, in which position the pistons contact as shown to'completely displace the vohnne therebetween. Movement of the piston 3| from its forward operating position to its normal position will compress the air compressed by the rst vstage of compression and confined in the piston rod 42 between pistons 4| and 34 and force it past one-way valve 63 in piston "33 into the high compression storage reservoir formed by the conduit 12 'and valve housing 32 where it is retained under high compression by valve 66 and main valve 33 in readiness for release 38. This motion will cause the rear face of the head portion 92 on the bolt to engage and retract the plunger 33 and spring 31 as av unit. When the plunger 89 is dispaced to -a position in rear of the -sear |02 the sear under the influence of the sear spring IM will be vprojected into the path of forward movement of the plunger. When the bolt is closed the sear will retain the plunger in retracted position and forward relative movement of the bolt with respectto the plunger will comp ress the, spring 91 between the collar on the bolt and forward end capon the plunger to drive the plunger forwardly when released from its to act upon the pellet 33 as a propelling agent. It will be understood that the initial loading on the springs of valves I5 and 33 will be coordinated'with the pressures developed to function as above referred to and vthat the. compressor may b'e actuated through several cycles if'desired, although ordinarily one cycle operation of the compressor will develop suillcient pressure. 'With air or other. gas now stored in the high compression storage reservoir formed by valve 66, conduit 12,; and valve housing 32 and the plunger 39 retained in the retracted position .by sear |32 the weapon is in readiness for fir-l ing. Release of the sear |32 from engagement with the retracted plunger 33 through the trigger |06 will permit the plunger to move forward and impart a sharp .blow to the ring lever I which will effect rotation of the tiring lever and forward movement of the valve stem 33 and attached valve 33. Opening of the valve 33 releases the compressed air in the high compression storage chamber under high unit pressure to expand through

conduits

13 and 13 against the chambered pellet which is driven through the rified barrel under the accelerating force of the expanding gases.

rear end portion of the low pressure member, a piston having a passage controlled by a one-way valve mounted within the low pressure member for reciprocal movement toward and from its forward end closure, a tubular piston rod connected to the piston with its interior in communication with said passage, means on the piston rod protruding through said slot for reciprocating the piston rod and piston, a second piston stationarilyA mounted within the tubular piston rod having a passage controlled by a oneway valve, means forming a conduit connecting said last named passage with the interior of the housing is formed with an'air passage through its side walland gaskets are interposed on either side of the air passage between the housing member and adjacent wall of the passage in the re.- ceiver frame in fluid sealed relation.

5. 'I'he structure of'fclaim 3 wherein said valve housing'i's formed with an air passage through its valve housing, a barrel mounted in parallel relal tion to said low pressure member, means forming a conduit between the interior of the valve housing and the chamber of the barrel, a main valve in said valve housing for controlling the last named conduit, ring mechanism for controlling forward end and slotted from a point intermediate its ends rearwardly, a valve housing member secured to the rear end portion of the low pres- 6. The structure of claim 2 wherein a valve u stem bushing is Asecured to the rear'end of the valve housing member in fluid sealed relation, the main valve is provided with a valve-stem slidably mounted in and 'protruding from said bushing, and the bushing and side wall of the housing member are provided with registering openings controllable by said main valve.

sure member, means for admitting air from atforwardly of said slot, a piston having a passage controlled by a one-way valve mounted within the low pressure member for reciprocal movement toward and from its forward end closure, a tubular piston rod connected to the piston with itsinterior in communication with said passage, means on the piston rod protruding through said slot for reciprocating the piston rod and piston, a second piston stationarlly mounted within the tubular piston rod having a passage controlled by a one-way valve,'means forming a conduit connecting said last named passage with the interior of the valve housing and a main vvalve mounted within the valve housing for. controllin the outlet from said conduit.

3. In a pneumatic gun comprising in combination, a receiverframe formed to have a longitudinal passage, a low pressure tubular member closed at its forward end slotted from a point intermediate its ends rearwardly secured with its rear end in the forward portion of said passage, means for admitting air into the low pressure member at a point forwardly of said slot, a valve housing member having a forwardly protruding nipple secured to' the rear portion of the low pressure member, means within said passage securing the valve housing member in position, a piston having a passage controlled by'a one-way valve mounted in said low pressure member for reciprocation between the slot and forward end closure, a tubular piston rod connected to the piston with its interior in communication with said passage, means on the piston rod protruding through said slot for reciprocating the 7. The structure of claim 2 wherein the mean on the piston rod protruding through the slot comprises a cross-head securedv to the piston'rod having a lug projecting through the slot, and a fiber guide sleeve is interposed between the crosshead and interior of said low pressure member. 8. The structure -of claim 2 wherein the forward end ofthe low pressure cylinder has a projecting lug-and a toggle linkage is interconnected between the projecting lug and means on the plston rod protruding through the slot for manually its forward end on the lug, a link is'connected atone end to said means on the piston rod protruding through the slot and at its other end to the barrel rearwardly of the latters pivotal mounting whereby' the barrel may be used to actuate said reciprocal piston and piston rod, a conduit extended from said valve housing to the chamber of-the barrel in the normal position of the barrel and a perforated sealing element of plastic ma-v terial is interposed in said conduit adapted to en-` gage the barrel around. said radial opening in fluid sealed relation.

1o. In a gun or the type described in combina-. tion,y a receiver frame having a longitudinal,

guideway cutaway on one side to form a `retaining shoulder, a plunger slidably-'molmted inthe guideway, a bolt having its rear portion rotatablyand 4slidably mounted in the plunger and provvidedV with a bolt head having ,a conical sealing surface and projectile engaging linger', a bolt handle adapted to engage the retaining shoulder secured to the bolt head, and resilient means interpqsed between the bolt and plungeradapted to be .compressed for effecting relative movement ofthe plunger and bolt when released.

l1. In a gun of the type described in com'bina.-

tion, a-receiver frame having a longitudinal passage and a transverse opening intersecting thepassage. a plus adapted to be'mserted within the passage and formed with a' transverse vopening A opening,'a sear secured to one of the' legs and a tons 4| and 54 `Volume of high com- Compression ratio beillustration and not of limitation:

Inside diameter of cyl- -inder 1.277 in. Stroke of piston 4|.. 8.5 in. Volume of chamber 46 10.88 cu. in. Initial loading on spring' Iof valve 23 Wt. of valve element 25 Initial loading on spring of valve 45 Initial loading on spring of valve 65 Volume of compression chamber between pis- 1.853 cu. in.

pression storage reservoir comprised 'of conduit 12 and valve housing 32 r-- .0.110 cu. in.

tween chambers 46 and high compression chamber or reservoir- Computed pressure in h ig h compressionl chamber ..-rn Face width of annular valve seat `84| Unit loading on valve elements and |I3 approx Length of link 55 Pin connection 60 spaced from pin 56--- Eiort required to actuate compressor.4 through link 55 20 lbs.

In the pilot model referred to above chronograph measured muzzle velocities of about 500 ft. sec. were obtained with air compressed with one stroke of the link 55, using a .22 caliber pellet 95 of 161/8 grains. Two strokes of the link 55 generated, consistently, pressures that developed in excess of '100 ft. sec. muzzle velocities with the same caliber and weight of pellets andthe grouping of a series of pellets fired at a range of 50 feet were Within a ring of 3A inch` in diameter. While extensive tests have not been performed to determine the shock power Iof the i485 lbs/sq. in. approx.

15,000 ibs/sq. in. Approx. 20 ins.

4.5 ins. v

25 Ihe seal |22 may be neoprene and has a coniment is made of a suitable metallic substance and the seat for the valve element is formed in va. laminated Bakelite insert II4 snugly fitted within a corresponding bore within the valve stem bushing 35.

'Ihe modied compressor actuating means shown in Fig. 2 discloses a form of the invention wherein the-barrel is employed as asubstitute for the link 55 shown in Fig. 1. In this case the barrel is pivoted as at ||5 to a bifurcated lug II6 carried'by the front end closure cap for cylinder I9. The cross-head II1 attached to piston rod 42 has a lug II8 extending through the slotV IIS' in the upper side of cylinder I9 and a link I I9 is interconnected with the lug I I8 and barrel at a point spaced rearwardlyv of -pivot pin ||5 as at |20. If desired, to simplify the construction the pivot pin for pivot |20 may be carried by a member |2| extending along the barrel and secured by the pin I I5. .In as much as the barrel ofl this form of the invention is necessarily of the break type it is essential that a seal such as |22 shown in Fig. 3 be inserted'between the barrel A and conduit 18 leading to the barrel to prevent escape of air through the conduit past the barrel.

cal sealing surface engageable with a conical seat inthe barrel in the normal position of the barrel shown in chain lines in Fig. 2. The seal |22 is retained in a recess inframe I2 by the retaining plate |23. Spring detents |24 engage notches |25 in the barrel to retain the barrel in normal pilot model it will clearly penetrate H inch soft the reduced portion 8| ofthe valve stem 00 and retained in place by the cap fastenerv I |3 whichis formed exteriorly to serve as a seat for one end of the valve spring 85. The valve element is formed of .laminated Bakelite" or similar material and is of conical shape having an included angle coincidingwith the included angle of the valve seat III.

.The valve of Fig. 9 is similar to the one shown in Fig. 8 but in this form .the conical valve eleposition. The barrel is actuated about its pivot I I5.in much the same manner as link 55 is actuated to compress the air and in all other respects the operation of the weapon of this modication is essentially the same as that shown in Fig. l. If desired, however, the valve 23 of Fig. 1 may be replaced by a valve port |20 which is uncovered in the rearward position of the low pressure piston 4I to admit air to chamber 46 and closed upon initial forward displacement of the piston to prevent escape of air from chamber 46 vby any passage other than valve 45.

In Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7 a toggle linkage for actuatingthe compressor is shown .located on top of the barrel. 'I'he link |21 is of arcuate cross section and is pin connected aty its forward end to a lug carried by the front end closure cap for cylinder |9 as at |28. An arcuate clip |29 is secured to the interior of link |21 in rearwardly spaced relation of pin connection |28 and the forward end of another link |30 of arcuate section is connected to the clip as indicated at |3I. The rear end of the link |30 is secured to lthe cross-head |32 on piston rod 42 by a pin connection |33. The arcuate shape of link |21 is designed to give the gun a neat and finished appearance in its normal position and overlies and receives the link I 30 in vsuch position, In operation the link |21 is oscillated about the pivot |28 between its full line or normal position and chain line position shown'in Fig. 4 to actuate 0 ent is:

1. An air gun comprising in combination, a supporting stock, a low pressure tubular member closed at its forward end and slotted from a point intermediate its ends rearwardly secured to the stock, a valve housing member secured to the trigger mounted in the transverse opening of the `i'ranie and having a finger engaged with said depending leg of .the sear spring.

12. In a gun of the typedescribed in combination, a valve housing member, a valve stem bushing secured to one end of the valve housing member in fluid sealed relation and provided with an annular projecting valve seat disposed within the valve housing, a valve cage Vhaving a recess at one end disposed in the valve housing with the end of the wall forming the recess and confronting the valve s'tem bushing adapted to abut th'e valve stem bushing in surrounding relation of said annular valve seat, a valve stem secured to the valve cage and slidabiy mounted in the valve stem bushing, a plastic valve element mounted in the recess of the valve cage of lesser depth than said recess and adapted to deformably engage said annular valve seat when the end of the wall forming the recess abuts the confronting portion of the valve stem bushing and resilient means normally urging the the low pressure member, a piston provided with a passage mounted in the low pressure member for movement toward and from the closed end portion thereof, said tubular member being provided with means to admit a uid into the cham-4 ber formed between the piston and closed end portion of the tubular member, a hollow piston valve cage into abutment with the valve stem bushing.

13. An air gun comprising in combination, a low pressure tubular member closed at one end portion, a main valve housing4 member secured to rod connected to the piston in communicating relation to the passage therein, means restricting the passage to one way tlow of fluid from said chamber through the passage, means for actuating the piston, a second piston provided with a. passage mounted in the hollow piston rod, conduit means connecting the passage in the second cylinder with the interior of the main valve housing, means restricting the passage in the secondv piston to one way flow of fluid from the conduit means to the interior of the main valve housing, a barrel, conduit means connecting the interior of the valve housing and chamber portionof said barrel, a main valve in said main valve housing normally closing said last recited conduit means, and firing mechanism for controlling said main valve.

WILLIAM F. BEASLEY.'