US2757657A

US2757657A - Bow operated air gun

Info

Publication number: US2757657A
Application number: US428424A
Authority: US
Inventors: Henry H Lohmeyer
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1954-05-10
Filing date: 1954-05-10
Publication date: 1956-08-07
Anticipated expiration: 1973-08-07

Description

Aug. 7, 1956 H. H. LOHMEYER 2,757,657

BOW OPERATED AIR GUN I35 ii N v m Henry H. Lohmeyer INVENTOR.

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7, 1956 H. H. LOHMEYER 2,757,657

BOW OPERATED AIR GUN Filed May 10, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Henry H. L ohmeyer INVENTOR.

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8 7, 1956 H. H. LOHMEYER Bow OPERATED AIR GUN Filed May 10, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 w P. m .0 0 L H m e H IN V EN TOR.

United States Patent O BOW OPERATED AIR GUN Henry H. Lohmeyer, Ambrose, N. Dak.

Application May 10, 1954, Serial N 0. 428,424

6 Claims. (Cl. 124-45)) My invention relates to improvements in air guns for shooting pellets.

The primary object of my invention is to provide a compressed air gun operated by a bow to shoot pellets at a high velocity.

Another object is to provide in such a gun air compressing means in which an air compressing piston is driven by impact thereagainst of a driver projected by the pull of the bow string and so as to facilitate ejection of pellets from the gun at high velocity.

Another object is to provide improved means for loading pellets one at a time into the gun and which is substantially fool-proof and safe.

Still another object is to provide a gun of the type and for the purpose above set forth and which is of simple construction, easy to operate, inexpensive to manufacture and not liable to get out of order.

Other and subordinate objects will become apparent when the succeeding description and claims are read with reference to the drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification.

In said drawings Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of my improved bow operated air gun in the preferred embodiment thereof;

Figure 2 is an enlarged view in horizontal section taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged view in vertical transverse section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an enlarged view in vertical transverse section taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view in vertical longitudinal section partly broken away of the pneumatic breech cylinder, parts of means for compressing air therein, and the pellet loading means;

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 illustrating the operation of the air compressing means and the pellet loading mechanism;

Figure 7 is a view in vertical section taken on the line 7-7 of Figure'6;

. Figure 8 is a view in vertical section taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 5;

Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmentary View in vertical section with parts in side elevation and taken on the line 9-9 of Figure 2; I v

Figure 10 is an enlarged fragmentary view in vertical section taken on the line 10-10 of Figure 9;

; Figure 11 is an enlarged fragmentary view in side elevation partly in vertical section illustrating the magazine clip;

Figure 12 is an enlarged fragmentary view in side elevation partly broken away illustrating the bow string restraining means;

Figure 13 is an enlarged view in vertical transverse section taken on the line 13-13 of Figure 12; and

Figures 14' and 15 are fragmentary enlarged views in plan illustrating the operation of the bow string restraining means.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, the bow operated gun of my invention embodies a conventional bow designated generally by the numeral 1, the stick 3 and bow string 5 of which may be formed of any suitable material. The stick 3 is preferably formed with a thickened longitudinal and flattened central portion 7.

According to my invention, a rearwardly extending U-shaped frame 9 of right angled form and strap metal, preferably, is bolted, as at 11, to said portion 7 with upper and

lower arms

13, 15 extending parallel rearwardly of the stick 3. A vertical hand grip member 17 is secured by screws 19 between the rear ends of said

arms

13, 15 and forms therewith a handle for the gun.

A pneumatic breech cylinder 21 of the gun surmounts the upper arm 13 and extends rearwardly from the stick 3 at a right angle to stick 3. The cylinder 21 has a closed front end 23 provided with a forwardly projecting reduced nipple 25 removably fitted in an opening 27 in the stick 3. A downwardly tapered pellet loading chamber 29 is provided in the front end 23 of the cylinder 21 and is vertically aligned with an upstanding front end guide sleeve 31 on said cylinder 21 for a vertically slidable pellet loading plunger 33 forming part of pellet loading means 34 presently fully described.

A short rifled barrel 35 has its rear end threaded in the nipple 25 and extends forwardly of the stick 3 through areduced opening 36 in said stick 3. The barrel 35 is axially aligned with cylinder 21 and with front and rear compressed

air discharge ports

37, 39 in the pellet loading chamber 29. As will be seen, the pneumatic cylinder 21 provides an air compressing chamber 41 in the rear of the pellet loading chamber 29 communicating with said barrel through

ports

37, 39.

A U-shaped fastener member 43 straddles the cylinder 21 intermediate its ends and is secured on top of upper arm 13 by a screw 45 extending into the hand grip 17 and provided with washer 47 thereon in said fastener. A cylinder bridging slide 49 removably connected to member 43 by tongue and

groove connections

51, 53 forms with member 43 means for detachably attaching the cylinder 21 to the frame 13.

Returning now to the pellet loading means 34, the pellet loading plunger 33 is vertically slidable in the guide sleeve 31 into upper and lower pellet receiving and loading positions, shown in Figures 5 and 6, respectively, and is provided with a transverse horizontal pellet receiving bore 55 having a flared rear end 57.

'The pellet loading plunger is rotatable in the guide sleeve 31 to lock the same in its pellet receiving and lowering positions by means of a transverse locking pin 59 therein, above the bore 55, rotatable into upper and lower angular ends,61, 63 of vertical slot 65 in the guide sleeve 31. ,The pin 59 traverses a vertical slot 67 in said plunger33 and a resilient plug 69 in said slot 67 urges said plunger 33 downwardly relative to said pin 59 so thatin the lowered; pellet loading position of said plunger 33, its lower end fits with an air sealing fit in the pellet loading chamber 29.

Lowering of the pellet loading plunger 33 into pellet loading position and locking of the same in that position aligns the pelletreceiving bore 55 with the

ports

37, 39

for ejection of a pellet into and out of the barrel 35 by pellet magazine cylinder on the guide sleeve 31 parallel with cylinder 21 and provided with an upstanding tubular the disk 111 and a washer 125 on the bolt.

filler throat 77 and embodying a coaxial guide sleeve 79 in the rear of the throat 77.

A pellet ejector plunger 81 is slidable forwardly in the guide sleeve 79 to eject pellets 83 one at a time forwardly out of the magazine cylinder 75 into the bore 55 of pellet loading plunger 33, when the latter is raised and locked in raised position, so that lowering of the pellet loading plunger and locking of the same in lowered position will align the pellet 83 with the

ports

37, 39 and thus load the gun.

A coil spring 85 surrounding said ejector plunger 81 and the guide sleeve 79 between a rear end push-button 87 on said plunger and a circumferential flange 89 on magazine cylinder 75 tensions said ejector plunger 81 against forward sliding and returns the same to normal position. A key 91 on said ejector plunger 81 slidable in a longitudinal keyway 93 in magazine cylinder 75 establishes the normal position of said ejector plunger 81.

The pellets 83 are hourglass-shaped and resilient and are adapted to fit in the bore 55 with rear ends compressed and frictionally locked in the flared rear end 57 of said bore so that the pellets will be expelled from said bore suddenly under high compression of air in the air compression chamber 41.

The pellets 83 may either be dropped one at a time through the throat 77 into the magazine cylinder 75, in front of the ejector plunger 81, or a clip 95 of the pellets, as shown in Figure 11, may be provided on the throat.

The clip 95 comprises a tube 97 having an enlarged lower end 99 adapted to be detachably sleeved downwardly onto the throat 77. The tube 97 is of a size to contain pellets 83 in stacked formation for gravity feed, one at a time, into the magazine cylinder 75 under the influence of a spring urged follower 101 in the upper end of said tube 97 confined therein by a screw cap 103 on said upper end.

Air is compressed in the air compression chamber 41 by means of a piston 105 driven forwardly by means presently described, from a retracted position shown in Figure into an advanced position shown in Figure 6 and whereby to compress air between the same and a pellet 83 loaded into the gun, as shown in Figure 6, until the air pressure overcomes the friction lock between said pellet and the rear end 57 of bore 55 so as to expel the pellet.

The piston 105 comprises a resilient cup member 107 on an axial bolt 109, a rear metal disk 111 on said bolt behind a washer 113, front lock nuts 115 on said bolt 109 and a resilient shock absorbing cap 117 on the front end of said bolt for engaging an opening to the chamber 29 in the advanced position of said piston.

Means for locking the piston 105 in retracted position is provided including a U-shaped resilient expansible and contractible grip 119 comprising a circular series of resilient fingers 121 extending in the cylinder 21 rearwardly from said piston 105 and from a connecting annular base 123 on the bolt 109 clamped thereby between The fingers 121 expand in the retracted position of the piston 105 to engage outwardly bowed hooked ends 127 thereon in an annular groove 129 in the rear end of chamber 41 for coaction with said groove to yieldingly lock said piston 105 retracted.

Driving means for the piston 105 comprises a bow driven ram rod 131 adapted to be projected into the chamber 41 through an axially apertured closure cap 133 on the rear end of the cylinder 21 and from a retracted position in the rear of the breech cylinder 21 and remote from the retracted piston 105 so as to ram said piston 105 with a sharp impact to drive the same forwardly.

A pair of laterally spaced channel guide bars 135 for the ram rod 131 extend rearwardly from the cap 133 at diametrically opposite sides of said cap 133 with front ends welded as at 137 to the rear end of said cap and with channels facing and rear ends cross-connected by circular resiliently padded T-shaped cross-head 139 welded to said bars 135, as at 141, and forming a rest for the palm of a hand holding the bow string 5 drawn. The guide bars 135 are spaced to slidably straddle opposite sides of the ram rod 131 so as to provide guide means therefor and which aligns said rod 131 with the piston and extend parallel with cylinder 21 as will be understood.

The bow string 5 is slidably extended through an aperture 143 in the ram rod 131 adjacent the rear end of said rod for retraction and projection of said ram rod 131 by drawing and release of the bow string 5. The guide bars are substantially longer than the ram rod 131 so that when the bow string 5 is fully drawn, said rod is retracted rearwardly of the retracted piston 105 a substantial distance, and as best shown in Figure 2.

As best shown in Figure 6, when the bow string 5 is released, the ram rod 131 drives the piston 105 forwardly by impact with the bolt 109, and its front end is positioned between the fingers 121 and when the grip 119 is advanced by the piston 105 forwardly of the groove 129 a short distance, the hooked ends 127 of fingers 121 slidably engage and are cammed by the inner wall of chamber 41 into a circumferential groove 145 in said rod adjacent its front end whereby said rod is interlocked with said grip 119 and will retract the piston 105 therewith for snap action interlocking of said fingers with groove 129 in the manner previously described to lock the piston 105 retracted.

The cap 133 and guide bars 135 are detachably secured to the barrel 21 by means of a U-shaped latching bail 147 having its ends pivoted in opposite sides of the central portion 7 of the bow stick 3 and which is vertically swingable downwardly in straddling relation to said stick and to the cylinder 21 and cap 133 to engage its bight end 149 behind a top stud 151 on said cap 133. The bight end 149 inclines upwardly and rearwardly of the sides of said bail so that it engages said stud under tension and with a snap action. A radial top stud 153 on the cylinder 21 received in a front edge notch 155 in said cap prevents rotation of the cap 133 and guide bars 135 relative to cylinder 21 and aligns the stud 151 with the bail.

A front sight finger 157 is attached to the throat and cylinder 21 in upstanding position as at 159, 161 and a rear notched sight bar 163 to one of the guide bars 135, as at 165, also in upstanding position. The sight finger 157 and sight bar 163 are both at the left side of the cylinder 21 and inclined upwardly and outwardly therefrom for sighting while in vertical position by turning the how 1 through an angle of substantially 15 degrees as is customary in archery.

Bow string restraining means is provided on the guide bars 135 comprising the following. A forked holding dog 167 for the ram rod is pivoted to one guide bar 135 adjacent the cross-head, or rest, 139 as at 169 to swing in opposite directions in the plane of said bars 135 in a longitudinal slot 171 in said one guide bar. The bold ing dog 167 has a forked front end 173 and a tail end 175 and is pivoted intermediate said ends. A pair of coil springs 177 extending across the top and bottom of guide bars 135 are connected at corresponding ends to opposite ends of a cross-pin 179 in said tail end 175 which is disposed at the outer side of one guide bar 135. The other ends of the springs 177 are connected to opposite ends of another cross-pin 181 fixed to the outer side of the other guide bar 135. Pin 181 is spaced rearwardly of pivot 169 so that dog 167 may be swung forwardly or rearwardly into holding and releasing past dead center positions in which it is held by springs 177 as shown in Figures 14 and 15, respectively, both positions being established by engagement of pin 179 with the adjacent guide bar 135. The ram rod 131 is notched, as at 183, to provide a rear terminal, lateral lug 185.

The bow string restraining means described in the foregoing operates as follows. Whcn the bow string 5 is drawn, the ram rod 131 is retracted and its lug 185 engages the front end of the holding dog 167 as shown in Figure 14 and swings the same into holding position in which its fork straddles said lug. When the bow string is released to drive the ram rod 131 forwardly, said lug 185 as the ram rod 131 starts forwardly swings said dog 167 into releasing position as shown in Figure 15. In its holding position, the holding dog 167 assists in holding the bow string 5 drawn to reduce the pull of the string against fingers of the operator.

A rubber plug 131' recessed in the front end of the ram rod 131 may be provided to cushion impact of the ram rod against the piston 105.

The foregoing-will, it is believed, suifice to impart a clear understanding of the invention since the operation thereof has been set forth in connection With the description of parts.

Manifestly, the invention is susceptible of modification without departing from the inventive concept and right is herein reserved to such as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a pellet shooting gun, a bow stick having a string.

air compression chamber communicating with said load- I ing chamber, plunger operated means on said cylinder for loading pellets into said loading chamber, a piston in said compression chamber adapted for advance from a retracted position to compress air in said compression chamber for expelling pellets forwardly out of said loading chamber and barrel, an impact striking driver rod for said piston, rearwardly extending, opposite channel bars on said cylinder slidably mounting said driver therebetween for advance and retraction into and out of said cylinder to impact and drive said piston, expansible spring means on said piston frictionally engaging the wall of said compression chamber to yieldingly lock said piston in retracted position for impact by said driver and means operatively connecting said string to said driver to retract and advance said driver when said string is drawn and released respectively, said driver being separate from said piston for retraction into a position in the rear of and spaced from said piston to impact said piston when the piston is retracted.

2. The combination of claim 1, said means on said piston comprising resilient fingers and a groove in said compression chamber engaged my said fingers.

3. The combination of claim 1, said means on said piston comprising resilient fingers compressible by the wall of said compression chamber upon advance of said piston into interlocking engagement with said driver to lock said piston to the driver for retraction thereby.

4. In a pellet shooting gun, a bow stick having a string and a central portion, a rifle barrel extending forwardly from said central portion, a cylinder extending rearwardly from said central portion and having a front pellet loading chamber communicating with said barrel and a rear air compression chamber communicating with said load-- ing chamber, a piston in said compression chamber adapted for advance from a retracted position to compress air in said compression chamber for expelling pellets forwardly out of said loading chamber and barrel, an impact striking driver rod for said piston, means on said cylinder slidably mounting said driver for advance and retraction into and out of said cylinder to impact and drive said piston, expansible spring means on said piston frictionally engaging the wall of said compression chamber to yieldingly lock the piston in retracted position for impact by said driver, and means operatively connecting said string to said driver to retract and advance said driver when said string is drawn and released respectively, said first named means comprising a pair of laterally spaced channel guide bars extending rearwardly from said cylinder and slidably supporting said driver therebetween in the channels thereof, said driver being separate from said piston for retraction into a position inthe rear of and spaced from said piston, to impact said piston when the piston is retracted.

5. The combination of claim 1, and a spring tensioned pivoted holding dog on one of said bars for said striker engaging the striker when the latter is retracted to yieldingly oppose pull of the bowstring and sWingable into striker disengaging position by advance of the striker in response to pull of said string suflicient to overcome the tension of said spring.

.6. In a pellet shooting gun, a bow stick having a string and a central portion, a rifle barrel extending forwardly from said central portion, a cylinder extending rearwardly from said central portion and having a front pellet loading chamber communicating With said barrel and a rear air compression chamber communicating with said loading chamber, plunger operated means on said cylinder for loading pellets in said loading chamber, a piston in said compression chamber adapted for advance from a retracted position to compress air in said compression chamber for expelling pellets forwardly out of said loading chamber and barrel, an impact driver for said piston, means on said cylinder slidably mounting said driver for advance and retraction into and out of said cylinder to impact and drive said piston, expansible means on said piston coacting with the wall of said compression chamber to yieldingly lock said piston in retracted position for impact by said driver, and means operatively con necting said string to said driver to retract and advance the driver when the string is drawn and released respectively, said means for mounting the driver comprising a pair of laterally spaced channel guide bars extending rearwardly from said cylinder and slidably supporting said driver therebetween in the channels thereof, said driver being separate from said piston for retraction into a position in the rear of and spaced from said piston to impact said piston when the piston is retracted.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,102,204 Shue June 30, 1914 1,526,176 OConnel Feb. 10, 1925 2,214,224 Douglas Sept. 10, 1940 2,572,176 Mihalyi Oct. 23, 1951