HK1242763B - Shock-absorption device of piston mechanism in simulation gun - Google Patents

Description

Buffer device of piston mechanism in imitation gun

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a buffer device of a piston mechanism in a simulation gun which ejects airflow and fires bullets through the action of a piston mechanism.

Background Art

Guns that mimic real guns and non-lethal guns are collectively referred to as simulation guns in this disclosure. Simulation guns come in a variety of styles. While they were once primarily used for entertainment, they are now widely used as substitutes for real guns in drills and other exercises within various organizations and institutions. Simulation guns, for example, use high-pressure gas, airguns, and electric guns that generate compressed air through a piston to fire bullets. There are also model guns that are not designed to fire bullets, resulting in a wide range of types and product development.

In these types of imitation guns, a piston mechanism is often used to inject airflow (gas flow) into the bullet. Gas guns, air guns, and electric guns also have structures similar to piston mechanisms. In air guns, either the piston or the cylinder moves rapidly, compressing the airflow. In gas guns, the direction of movement of the piston mechanism changes dramatically during the bullet launch and subsequent recoil. As a result, moving parts can contact other parts, causing impacts and other durability issues.

In the past, one approach to address this issue was to change the material of the impact component. However, since these materials are generally difficult to obtain, the raw material price is high, and processing and assembly are labor-intensive. A review of existing technologies revealed, for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 7-225097, which relates to airsoft guns. This invention discloses a braking mechanism that significantly increases the final compression pressure of the piston during the compression process compared to the normal compression process. However, in order to utilize the compression pressure in the braking mechanism, a bypass passage must be newly formed in the piston mechanism and a flow control valve must be incorporated. Furthermore, the structure and adjustment requirements are complex, making this an unsuitable airsoft gun for widespread use.

Previous technical literature

Patent Literature

Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Publication No. 7-225097

Summary of the Invention

Technical issues to be solved by the invention

The present invention was developed in light of the aforementioned circumstances. Its purpose is to mitigate the impact on the piston mechanism of a simulated gun that ejects airflow and fires bullets through the operation of the piston mechanism, thereby improving its durability. Furthermore, another object of the present invention is to provide a piston mechanism cushioning device that can be implemented without significantly modifying the mechanism and structure of the simulated gun.

Means for solving technical problems

To address the aforementioned issues, the present invention adopts the following approach: a simulation gun that ejects airflow and fires bullets through the action of a piston mechanism, wherein the piston mechanism is equipped with a piston stopper that is movable relative to the piston mechanism. To cushion the impact force associated with the action of the piston mechanism, the piston stopper is mounted on a component of the piston mechanism, and a buffer member is provided between the piston stopper and another component of the piston mechanism.

The imitation guns that are the subject of this invention are those with a piston mechanism. Typically, when a piston is used, it is thought of as a piston that is combined with a cylinder and compresses gas within the cylinder through its movement. In this invention, the piston mechanism encompasses not only piston-cylinder mechanisms that compress gas, but also mechanisms that include a piston that can be considered to reciprocate and a cylinder that provides a path for the piston's movement. Furthermore, while the gas handled in this invention primarily involves gas guns, it is also applicable to piston mechanisms that use air as the working gas.

The device of the present invention is equipped with a piston stopper that can move relatively with respect to the piston mechanism portion in the piston mechanism. In other words, the piston stopper uses the piston mechanism in the form of a guide rail, thereby being able to move along the piston mechanism.

Furthermore, to cushion the impact of the piston mechanism's movement, a piston stopper is attached to one component of the piston mechanism, and a buffer member is provided between the piston stopper and another component. The buffer member reduces the kinetic energy of the piston mechanism's moving parts and cushions the impact.

The simulated gun in the device of the present invention is a gas gun having the following structure: a piston mechanism ejects gas into a bullet, and a differential pressure valve mechanism built into the piston mechanism causes the piston mechanism and bolt to retract. The impact force is preferably configured such that the mass of the retracting piston mechanism is added to the mass of the bolt. The bolt preferably has a relatively large mass to provide a recoil impact. Since the piston mechanism bears a portion of the required mass, the bolt can be made smaller and lighter.

In addition, the piston of the piston mechanism part can move inside the cylinder, and the cylinder has a guide part in the front-to-back direction on its outside. The piston stopper is configured to be movable in the front-to-back direction within a certain range by engaging with the above-mentioned guide part. A coil spring as a buffer member can also be provided between the spring seat provided on the above-mentioned cylinder and the piston stopper.

Effects of the Invention

As described above, the present invention achieves the effect of improving durability by relieving the impact applied to the piston mechanism of a simulated gun that ejects airflow and fires bullets through the operation of the piston mechanism. Furthermore, the present invention provides a piston mechanism buffer device that can be implemented by interposing the buffer member between the piston mechanism and the piston stopper, even if the mechanism and structure of the simulated gun are significantly modified.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG1 is a cross-sectional explanatory view showing an example of a gas gun to which a buffer device of a piston mechanism in a simulation gun according to the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an exploded view of a shock absorbing device of a piston mechanism.

FIG3 illustrates the operating states of the buffer device of the piston mechanism. FIG3A is a cross-sectional explanatory view showing a state where the bolt begins to retract. FIG3B is a cross-sectional explanatory view showing a state where the piston is engaged with a piston stopper. FIG3C is a cross-sectional explanatory view showing a state where the buffer member is in operation.

FIG4 is a diagram showing the operation of the gas gun. FIG4A is a cross-sectional explanatory diagram showing a state where the bolt is manually retracted, and FIG4B is a cross-sectional explanatory diagram showing a state where a bullet is manually loaded.

FIG5 is a diagram showing the operation of the gas gun, FIG5A is a cross-sectional explanatory diagram showing a state where a bullet is fired, and FIG5B is a cross-sectional explanatory diagram showing a state where the bolt starts to retreat.

6 is a diagram showing the operation of the gas gun, FIG6A is a cross-sectional explanatory diagram showing a state where the hammer is cocked by the bolt, and FIG6B is a cross-sectional explanatory diagram showing a state where the piston starts to retreat.

FIG7 is a diagram showing the operation of the gas gun. FIG7A is a cross-sectional explanatory diagram showing a state in which the bolt is at the maximum retracted position. FIG7B is a cross-sectional explanatory diagram showing a state in which a bullet is supplied to the loading portion while the bolt is advancing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The buffer device for the piston mechanism in the imitation gun of the present invention is applicable to all imitation guns and is not limited to gas guns. However, for ease of description, a gas gun will be described first.

FIG1 illustrates a recoil-type gas gun as a simulation gun G. The illustrated simulation gun G includes a firing mechanism 10 in the center of the gun body, a barrel 11 at the front of the gun body 10, a magazine 22 at the bottom of the gun body, and a movable body 30 for a recoil bolt 29 at the rear of the gun body.

The barrel 11 is provided with a loading section 12 at the rear. Gas is ejected toward the bullet B loaded into the loading section 12 via a differential pressure valve mechanism 20 provided in the firing mechanism 10, resulting in the firing of the bullet B. The firing mechanism 10 includes a piston mechanism 15 comprising a piston 13 movable in the barrel axis direction and a cylinder 14 serving as a space for piston 13 to move. The piston 13 is hollow and cylindrical, with a nozzle 16 at its front end for ejecting gas toward the bullet B and an opening at its rear end that faces the closed end of the cylinder 14.

A gas inlet 17, connecting the inside and outside, is opened at the lower portion of the piston 13 near the front end. The differential pressure valve mechanism 20 is located near the gas inlet 17. The differential pressure valve mechanism 20 comprises a differential pressure valve 18 positioned between the piston 13 and the nozzle 16 at the front end, a valve chamber 19 in which the differential pressure valve 18 can move forward and backward, and a return spring 21 within the valve chamber. The differential pressure valve 18 is designed so that its outer diameter is sized differently from the inner diameter of the valve chamber 19 to allow for a sliding fit.

The differential pressure valve 18 is a cylindrical valve with its front end open and its rear end closed. It has a gas passage 18a on its circumference. Its structure is as follows: it is retracted by a return spring 21 to fire the bullet B in the loading section 12, and then advanced by the pressure of the gas that continues to flow in, closing the valve and directing the airflow toward the cylinder 14. This valve's direction of movement is changed by the pressure difference, hence the name "differential pressure valve." The airflow directed toward the cylinder 14 is utilized for the recoil action.

Gas is filled into the gas tank 23 within the magazine section 22 and is then supplied to the piston mechanism 15 via the on-off valve mechanism 25 in response to trigger operation, which will be described later. The on-off valve mechanism 25 includes a gas flow path 24 extending from the gas tank 23 to the piston mechanism 15 and an on-off valve 26 provided to open and close the gas flow path 24. The on-off valve mechanism 25 allows gas to flow from an outlet 27 at the end of the gas flow path to an inlet 17. The on-off valve 26 also includes a valve shaft 26a exposed to the outside so that it can be pressed by a hammer 40, which is actuated by trigger operation, which will be described later.

In the piston mechanism 15, the piston 13 is biased rearward by a return spring 28, which is a tension spring. The front end of the piston return spring 28 is attached to a piston-side component 59a, and the rear end is attached to a cylinder-side component 59b. The bolt 29 has the mass required to experience a simulated recoil impact. In this embodiment, the bolt 29 is shaped like a shaft that is elongated from front to back. Furthermore, the cylinder 14 and the bolt 29 are integrally formed, so the mass of the cylinder 14 is applied to the bolt 29.

Behind the bolt 29, a movable body 30 is located. The movable body 30 comprises a housing 30c mounted on the gun body and a movable shaft 30a disposed therein. The movable shaft 30a is arranged within the housing 30c so as to be movable forward and backward, and is configured to engage with the rear end of the bolt 29 via a shaft head 30b. In the figure, reference numeral 31 denotes a buffer spring. The buffer spring 31 biases the movable shaft 30a in the forward direction, thereby ultimately placing the piston mechanism 15 in the ready-to-fire position. Furthermore, the buffer spring 31 receives the bolt 29 during its retraction, thereby modulating the impact at the end of the recoil shock.

A trigger 32 is provided to activate the firing device 10. The trigger 32 is composed of two components, 32A and 32B. The trigger component 32A is the operating component, and the trigger component 32B is the operated component. These two components 32A and 32B are rotatable about an axis 33 and are biased toward each other by a trigger spring 34. A circuit breaker 35 is coaxially located with the trigger component 32A and can select between continuous firing and single firing. This is controlled by a selector 36.

Trigger member 32A locks the hammer 40 in a cocked position. Reference numeral 37 denotes a locking portion on the trigger side that maintains the cocked position, while reference numeral 38 denotes a locking portion on the hammer side. Reference numeral 39 denotes a hammer spring that accumulates pressure when cocked. Therefore, when the trigger 32A is operated, the locking portions 37 and 38 are disengaged, releasing the accumulated pressure in the hammer spring 39 and allowing the hammer 40 to actuate.

The hammer 40 is engaged with the sear 41 when cocked. The spring 42 acts on the sear 41 to keep the hammer 40 cocked. The hammer 40 is cocked by the retreat of the cylinder 14. Therefore, a cam-shaped engaging protrusion 43 is provided at the lower rear end of the cylinder 14, and the engaging protrusion 44 is axially supported on the hammer 40. Symbol 45 is the hammer pressing part of the hammer 40, which drives the valve shaft 26a via the ejector (knocker) 46. 47 represents the bolt protrusion, which rotates the sear 41 against the sear spring 42, so that the hammer 40 in the cocked state can rotate. 48 represents the charging rod (bolt handle), which is engaged with the front side of the cylinder 14 and retreated, thereby cocking the hammer 40. The protrusions 44 and 47 can be simple protrusions or rollers.

The cushioning device of the imitation gun of the present invention is equipped with a piston stopper 50 (see FIG2 ) mounted on the piston mechanism 15, which is movable relative to the piston mechanism 15. In the piston mechanism 15, a guide portion 51 for the front-rear direction is provided on the upper portion of the cylinder 14. The piston stopper 50 is configured to be movable within a certain range of the front-rear direction by engaging the guide portion 51 with a guide receiving portion 52. The guide portion 51 is formed in a slender, protruding shape on the upper portion of the cylinder 14 in the direction of piston movement, and the guide receiving portion 52 is provided on the piston stopper 50 at a position where the guide portion 51 engages.

More specifically, the guide portion 51 is formed to be shorter than the guide receiving portion 52 by a desired length, and is configured to be relatively movable in the forward and backward directions within a certain range defined by this length difference (see Figure 3). The piston stopper 50 is mounted so that it can move within a certain range using two screws 53. The two screws 53 are screwed into the cylinder 14 through two elongated holes 54, allowing for movement within a certain range. Furthermore, the piston stopper 50 is provided with left and right wings 50a at its front end to stabilize its movement.

The fin 50a fits into the notch 14a at the front end of the cylinder 14 and is positioned there, engaging with the engaging portion 13a at the rear end of the piston 13, which serves as a retaining mechanism for the piston 13. This compresses the coil spring serving as the buffer member 57 between the front spring seat 55 provided on the cylinder 14 and the rear spring seat 56 of the piston stopper 50. Reference numeral 58 denotes a connecting piece, which is secured to the cylinder side by the rear screw 53 and engages with the piston 13 via a retaining frame 58a, integrally connecting the two.

In the piston mechanism cushioning device described above, as the airflow is switched rearward by the operation of the differential pressure valve 18 from the state immediately after firing (Figure 3A), the piston mechanism 15 and the bolt 29 integrated therewith begin to move rearward. Once this movement is complete, the piston stopper 50 engages with the engaging portion 13a of the piston 13 via the fin 50a, pulling the piston 13 backward. The piston 13 is then further pulled toward the bolt 29 by the piston return spring 28 (Figure 3B).

The force transmitted to the piston 13 is absorbed by the buffer member 57 disposed between the front spring seat 55 of the cylinder 14 and the rear spring seat 56 of the piston stopper 50, thereby compressing the piston 13 ( FIG. 3C ). Thus, the force rapidly transmitted to the piston 13 is buffered and alleviated by the buffer member 57, thereby preventing the force from becoming an impact force sufficient to damage the piston 13 and reducing the force acting on related components.

The overall operation of the simulated gun G of the present invention is described below. Manual operation of the loading lever 48 retracts the bolt 29, cocking the hammer 40 (see FIG4A ). When the loading lever 48 is released, the bolt 29 advances due to the buffer spring 31, and the nozzle 16 of the piston mechanism 15, which moves integrally therewith, loads a round B into the loading section 12 ( FIG4B ).

Next, when the trigger 32A is pulled and the hammer 40 actuates, the valve shaft 26a is pushed inward via the ejector 46, opening the on-off valve mechanism 25 and allowing compressed gas to flow into the gas inlet 17. The compressed gas flows into the differential pressure valve 18 through the gas port 18a of the differential pressure valve mechanism 20 and is ejected toward the bullet B, causing the bullet B to be fired from the barrel 11 ( FIG. 5A ). After the bullet is fired, the differential pressure valve 18 advances due to the pressure of the continuously flowing gas, causing the differential pressure valve mechanism 20 to close and direct the gas flow toward the gas cylinder 14 ( FIG. 5B ).

The piston mechanism 15 retracts along with the bolt 29 due to the inflow of air into the cylinder 14, cocking the hammer 40 during this process ( FIG. 6A ). When the bolt 29 retracts a certain amount, the piston 13 and the piston stopper 50 begin to retract together and are pulled toward the bolt by the piston return spring 28 ( FIG. 6B ).

After the bolt 29 and piston mechanism 15 retreat to their maximum retracted position, they stop ( FIG7A ). The operator of the imitation gun G experiences the shock of the bolt 29's mass transfer during this period. The stored pressure in the buffer spring 31 is released by the aforementioned retreat, causing the bolt 29 to advance. Through the nozzle 16 at the front end of the piston mechanism, which moves integrally with it, a round B is loaded into the loading section 12 ( FIG7B ). Furthermore, the projection 47 of the bolt 29 rotates the sear 41, unlocking the hammer 40, returning to the state shown in FIG4B , and repeating the firing action (continuous fire mode). In single-shot mode, the hammer 40 engages the breaker 35 via the engaging portions 35 a and 40 a, stopping the hammer 40. This lock is released by resetting the trigger 32, causing the hammer 40 to remain locked in the trigger 32 and remain in the cocked position.

As described above, the piston mechanism cushioning device of the imitation gun of the present invention employs a buffer member 57 disposed between the piston mechanism 15 and the piston stopper 50. This significantly improves the durability of the piston mechanism 15 in gas guns, which are subject to the sudden change in the movement direction of the piston 13 during the firing of a bullet and the subsequent recoil. In particular, the present invention achieves this goal by adding a movable piston stopper 50 to the existing piston mechanism 15 and interposing the buffer member 57 therebetween. This simplifies the structure and makes it easier to find optimal values for the spring strength of the buffer member 57.

Explanation of symbols

10-Firing mechanism, 11-Barrel, 12-Loading unit, 13-Piston, 14-Cylinder, 15-Piston mechanism, 16-Nozzle, 17-Gas inlet, 18-Differential pressure valve, 19-Valve chamber, 20-Differential pressure valve mechanism, 21-Return spring, 22-Magazine, 23-Gas tank, 24-Gas flow path, 25-Opening and closing valve mechanism, 26-Opening and closing valve, 27-Outflow port, 28-Piston return spring, 29-Bolt, 30-Movable body, 31-Buffer spring, 32, 32A, 32B-Touch Trigger, 33-shaft, 34-trigger spring, 35-circuit breaker, 36-selector, 37, 38-stopper, 39-hammer spring, 40-hammer, 41-sealer, 42-sealer spring, 43-engaging protrusion, 44-engaging wheel, 45-hammer pressure part, 46-ejector, 47-bolt protrusion, 48-loading rod, 50-piston stopper, 51-guide part, 52-guide receiving part, 53-screw, 54-long hole, 55-front spring seat, 56-rear spring seat, 57-buffer member, 58-connecting piece.

Claims (3)

1. A buffer device for a piston mechanism in a replica gun, the replica gun ejecting airflow and firing bullets through the action of the piston mechanism, characterized in that... A piston stop, which is movable relative to the piston mechanism, is mounted on a component of the piston mechanism to cushion the impact force accompanying the movement of the piston mechanism. Furthermore, a buffer member is provided between the piston stop and another component of the piston mechanism. The simulated gun is a gas gun, which has the following structure: gas is injected into the bullet through a piston mechanism, and the piston mechanism and bolt are retracted through a differential pressure valve mechanism built into the piston mechanism. The mass of the piston mechanism that moves backward as an impact force is added to the mass of the bolt. 2. The buffer device for the piston mechanism in the simulated gun according to claim 1, wherein, The piston in the piston mechanism can move inside the cylinder. The cylinder has a guide portion in the front-to-back direction on its outside. The piston stop is configured to move in the front-to-back direction within a certain range by engaging with the guide portion. A helical spring as a buffer member is provided between the spring seat provided on the cylinder and the piston stop. 3. A buffer device for a piston mechanism in a replica gun, the replica gun ejecting airflow and firing bullets through the action of the piston mechanism, characterized in that... A piston stop, which is movable relative to the piston mechanism, is mounted on a component of the piston mechanism to cushion the impact force accompanying the movement of the piston mechanism. Furthermore, a buffer member is provided between the piston stop and another component of the piston mechanism. The piston of the piston mechanism can move inside the cylinder. The cylinder has a guide portion in the front-to-back direction on its outside. The piston stop is configured to move in the front-to-back direction within a certain range by engaging with the guide portion. A helical spring as a buffer member is provided between the spring seat provided on the cylinder and the piston stop.