United States Patent [191
`Lilley
`
`[11] Patent Number:
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`4,986,251
`Jan. 22, 1991
`
`[54] AIRGUN MGAZINE
`Stephen J. Lilley, Sawston, England
`[75] Inventor:
`[73] Assignee: Utec B. V., Driebergen, Netherlands
`[21] Appl. No.: 348,257
`[22] Filed:
`May 5, 1989
`[30]
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`May 6, 1988 [GB] United Kingdom ............ .. 88106745
`
`[51] Int. (:1.5 ............................................ .. F41B 11/00
`[52] us. (:1. ...................................... .. 124/67; 124/48;
`124/52
`[58] Field of Search .................................. .. 124/63-68,
`124/48, 45, 51 R, 52, 53
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`[56]
`
`926,546 6/1909 Cox ..................................... .. 124/48
`1,328,929 l/ 1920 McDaniel
`..
`1,677,810 7/1928 Bond .......... ..
`1,816,091 7/1931 Schmeisser ..
`2,303,017 ll/l942 Brown et al.
`2,609,811 9/1952 Lawrence
`
`.... .. 124/48
`.... .. 124/52
`.... .. 124/48
`
`2,713,859 7/1955 Brad?eld . . . . . . . . .
`
`. l . . .. 124/45
`
`.... .. 124/67
`3,818,887 6/1974 Akiyama et a1.
`.. 124/48 X
`3,913,553 10/1975 Braughler et al. ..
`4,850,328 7/1989 Sindel ............................. .. 124/52 X
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`3040924 5/1982 Fed. Rep. of Germany ...... ., 124/45
`4622 of 1906 United Kingdom ................ .. 124/48
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`“Gas, Air and Spring Guns”, W. H. B. Smith, 1957, pp.
`146-147.
`Primary Examiner—Peter M. Cuomo
`Assistant Examiner-Jeffrey L. Thompson
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm—-Lee, Mann, Smith,
`McWilliams & Sweeney
`
`[57]
`
`'
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A magazine for an air gun comprises an outer case, a
`circular pellet carrier rotatably mounted in the outer
`case, and a cover that is pivotally mounted on the outer
`case. A coil spring resiliently biases the pellet carrier
`towards an end position. To load the magazine, the
`cover is pivoted to cause the pellet carrier to rotate to
`another end position, and a soft lead airgun pellet is then
`dropped in through a hole in the outer cover into a
`pellet chamber in the pellet carrier. The outer cover is
`then rotated, allowing successive pellets to be dropped
`into successive pellet chambers within the pellet carrier.
`In use, a probe pushes the ?rst pellet out of the maga
`zine into the breech of an airgun, and following this, the
`magazine automatically indexes under spring pressure
`to present the next pellet ready for loading. The pellets
`themselves serve as part of the indexing mechanism.
`The transfer probe places the pellets accurately in posi
`tion within the breech of the airgun.
`
`27 Claims, 7 Drawing Sheets
`
`Ex. C&D 1009, page 1
`
`

`
`\1\
`
`U.S. Patent
`Jan. 22, 1991
`US. Patent Jan. 22, 1991
`
`Sheet 1 017
`Sheet 1 017
`
`4,986,251
`4,986,251
`
`Ex. C&D 1009, page 2
`
`Ex. C&D 1009, page 2
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 22, 1991
`
`Sheet 2 of 7
`
`4,986,251
`
`Ex. C&D 1009,
`
`a e 3
`
`Ex. C&D 1009, page 3
`
`

`
`‘[LEi.]atem1t
`US. Patent Jan. 22, 1991
`Jan 22,1991
`
`Sheet 3 of7
`
`Ia
`
`Q Nuuu!
`
`!5NN§
`
`
`
`£:‘m“vIv4"‘A
`
`v""‘|""':“’."lg!"“.""“"".‘..‘%
`om\ommm3
`
`
`
`2
`
`8
`
`7"”!
`
`Ii!
`
`
` \mima“I,“Q»""'."""";""o...\.m....h.uunuu.u. rI.WIfr4llr.l.lIlyl
`u fi%M«.“.iJ‘
`g|-I"'\r‘CP““‘:!““""'w’'1
`
`
`cm..ianuuaaananaauannnvuuua..lnunnl5a.Ig.33RSf..3w.m:
`
`um..,w.n_
`
`.xm MW .25
`
`
`
`7r""""""v~““"v“..\‘:‘~‘~\H............K".M\\._v
`
`
`4,986,251
`4,986,251
`
`1.I.a‘\““‘\\§-\‘~‘
`.'A|"."”"""".\
`ll!
`r"“!“i“"‘u‘l"/.
`
`. _.m . mm
`
`.Nm
`
`1
`
`a. sf
`
`\\\\\V
`u\l\i\'I'\i'\1\i\i\i\i
`
`
`
` «uL.D";E‘‘‘’‘.
`
`Ex. C&D 1009, page 4
`
`Ex. C&D 1009, page 4
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`

`
`US. Patent Jan. 242, 1991
`
`Sheet 4 0f 7
`
`4,986,251
`
`J2. diam
`
`
`
`//// ///j
`
`b
`
`Ex. C&D 1009, page 5
`
`

`
`US. Patent Jan. 22, 1991
`US. Patent
`Jan. 22, 1991
`
`Sheet 5 0f 7
`Sheet 5 of 7
`
`4,986,251
`4,986,251
`
`Ex. C&D 1009, page 6
`
`Ex. C&D 1009, page 6
`
`

`
`US. Patent V
`US. Patent
`
`Jan. 22, 1991
`Jan. 22, 1991
`
`%
`
`Sheet 6 of7
`Sheet 6 0f 7
`
`4,986,251
`4,986,251
`
`Ex. C&D 1009, page 7
`
`Ex. C&D 1009, page 7
`
`

`
`US. Patent Jan. 22, 1991
`U.S. Patent
`Jan. 22, 1991
`
`Sheet 7 of 7
`Sheet 7 of 7
`
`4,986,251
`4,986,251
`
`AS
`
`9K)
`
`AL
`
`}
`
`A3
`
`>8
`
`
`
` 9:.
`
`_’_
`
`
`
`Ex. C&D 1009, page 8
`
`Ex. C&D 1009, page 8
`
`

`
`1
`
`AIRGUN MAGAZINE
`
`4,986,251
`2
`Thirty years later the position had changed little and
`John Walter, a world authority on airguns, wrote in
`1984, in “The Airgun Book”, Third Edition, on page 24:
`“The quest for an ideal magazine will continue, as
`much development is still to be done. Unfortu
`nately, the malleability of lead pellets prevents any
`spring-powered feed-though the advent of tough,
`synthetic body pellets such as Promethus may
`change matters.”
`In addition to rotary, drum or disc con?gurations,
`many inventors have also used slide systems and, more
`commonly, tube magazines, often spring-loaded.
`Spring-loaded tube magazines can be made to function
`with a high degree of reliability with spherical ball
`ammunition and with moderate reliability with selected
`Diabolo pellets. If pellets of varying lengths and/or
`head shapes are used, however, the chances of complete
`malfunction and/or deformation of the pellet, usually
`during the transfer from the end of the tube into the
`breech, rise very signi?cantly. In addition it is very
`difficult for tube magazines to be readily removeable
`which, if it could be done, would conveniently enable
`pre-loaded spare magazines to be carried.
`Preferred embodiments of the present invention aim
`to overcome the abovementioned difficulties with air
`gun magazines. They have been found to be both simple
`and extremely reliable, having been used for thousands
`of shots without a single malfunction. Advantages have
`been found to include the following:
`they can be loaded with either or both ball, diabolo or
`other pellets of a calibre to suit the airgun and are sub
`stantially insensitive to the shape or length of the pel
`lets;
`they may ensure that pellets can be fed directly into
`the breech and engaged in the rifling without distortion
`or damage;
`they may be extremely compact and easily removed
`or inserted; and
`they may enable a user to ascertain rapidly whether
`any pellets are left, without removing the magazine.
`More generally, according to a ?rst aspect of the
`present invention, there is provided an airgun magazine
`comprising:
`a pellet carrier having a plurality of chambers each
`for receiving a respective airgun pellet;
`a housing in which the pellet carrier is moveably
`mounted; and
`means for causing movement of the pellet carrier in
`the housing to present successive pellets in the pellet
`chambers to the breech of an airgun when the pellet
`carrier is ?tted in the airgun.
`At least the pellet carrier may be adapted to be de
`tachable from an airgun in which the magazine may be
`used. Preferably, the magazine is detachable as a com
`plete exchangeable unit from an airgun in which the
`magazine may be used.
`Said housing is preferably provided with registration
`means adapted to co-operate with corresponding regis
`tration means provided on an airgun to ensure consis
`tent registration of the magazine with the breech of the
`airgun when the magazine is ?tted in the airgun.
`Preferably, each pellet chamber is of at least part
`cylindrical con?guration.
`The magazine preferably includes a cover which
`co-operates with the pellet carrier to retain the pellets
`therein and which is provided with at least one loading
`aperture through which pellets may be loaded into the
`pellet chambers.
`
`LII O
`
`60
`
`10
`
`30
`
`This invention relates to pellet magazines for airguns.
`Conventional waisted “diabolo” airgun pellets are
`made out of soft lead and are therefore susceptible to
`damage. Such pellets are very small as well as soft. It is
`therefore very easy to drop them when loading them
`individually into the breech of an airgun, which is a
`considerable inconvenience, especially when out in the
`?eld. An effective and reliable magazine would over
`come these problems and reduce the shot-to-shot time,
`even if the pellets were not dropped. It would become
`even more useful if it did not make the airgun any
`larger, more awkward to use or more likely to snag on
`clothes or undergrowth. If it were compact and readily
`removable, so that it did not have to be loaded with
`pellets in situ and thus spare, pre-loaded magazines
`could be carried in a pocket and ?tted rapidly and easily
`as required; and if it could operate reliably with a wide
`range of different pellet weights and lengths, then yet
`further important advantages would have been
`achieved.
`There have been many attempts to provide versatile
`and reliable magazine facilities on airguns. One of the
`oldest and best-documented examples is the gravity-fed,
`tube magazines for spherical balls developed by Girar
`doni of Austria primarily for military air-rifles at the
`end of the 18th century.
`The rapid development of the airgun as a high
`volume consumer product from the latter half of the
`19th century onwards was accompanied by many fur
`ther attempts to provide effective magazines. US. Pat.
`No. 94,279 of 1369 to Bunge, U.K. Patent No. 4622 of
`1906 to Butler, U.K. Patent No. 4824 of 1907 to Cox,
`U.K. Patent No. 302,279 of 1930 to Schmeisser, UK.
`Patent No. 685,700 of 1949 to Lawrence and German
`Patent No. 876370 of 1953 to Walther are examples of
`attempts using rotary, drum or disc systems.
`The Walther magazine shown in German Patent No.
`876370 is perhaps of particular interest in that it is com
`pact, circular, removable and spring-loaded. Unfortu
`nately it is incapable of handling diabolo pellets; if
`diabolo pellets are to be used, the magazine must be
`removed, a blanking device ?tted and each diabolo
`pellet must then be manually inserted in the breech in
`turn.
`It is notable that in “Smith’s Standard Encyclopedia
`of Gas, Air and Spring Guns of the World” of 1957, still
`widely regarded as a major reference work, it is stated
`on page 244:
`“Repeating Models. In two specimens (referring to
`HY-SCORE repeating pistols) tested, these did not
`work too well on feeding. Judging by the manufac
`turer’s instructions which accompanied the pistols,
`other also have had trouble with consistent feed
`ing. This must always be expected in ANY repeat
`ing mechanism using a fragile, shaped, thin-skirted
`pellet of the Diabolo design. The Author has used
`several air pistols and ri?es with very efficient feed
`systems, both gravity and spring types, for loading
`ball-type ammunition. With the sole exception of
`the complicated and fragile slide system once used
`65
`by Crosman ri?es, no repeating system examined
`has been found even reasonably reliable for feeding
`Diabolos.”
`
`Ex. C&D 1009, page 9
`
`

`
`3
`Such a cover may be moveable with respect to the
`housing and/or pellet carrier, so that the cover may be
`placed into successive positions to permit loading of
`successive ones of the pellet chambers.
`The magazine preferably includes indexing means for
`so controlling movement of the pellet carrier in the
`housing as to ensure registration of the successive pellet
`chambers with the breech of the airgun, in use, the
`indexing means including an abutment surface which is
`arranged to abut each successive pellet in the pellet
`carrier so as to ensure registration of that pellet with the
`breech of the airgun.
`The arrangement may be such that, when said abut
`ment surface abuts a respective one of the pellets, the
`pellet reacts the force applied at the abutment surface at
`at least two points on the pellet carrier.
`Preferably, said abutment surface is of a part-circular
`con?guration of a radius substantially corresponding to
`that of the pellets to be received in the magazine.
`The abutment surface may be provided on a projec
`tion which extends into the pellet carrier and the pellet
`carrier may be provided with a slot which extends
`through the pellet chambers and which passes around
`said projection as the pellet carrier moves relative to the
`housing. Said projection may be provided on said hous
`ing.
`Preferably, each pellet chamber has a diameter
`slightly greater than that of the pellets with which the
`magazine is intended to be used, the arrangement being
`such that the pellet that is in a position ready to be
`loaded into the breech is retained in its chamber at least
`partly by abutment with said abutment surface, and
`each other pellet is retained in its chamber by co-opera
`tion between the pellet carrier and housing or by co
`operation between the pellet carrier, housing and cover.
`The magazine preferably includes resilient biassing
`means for biassing the pellet carrier towards an end
`position within said housing.
`The pellet carrier may advantageously be of a circu
`lar con?guration, arranged for angular movement
`40
`within said housing.
`Alternatively, the pellet carrier may be of a straight
`con?guration, arranged for rectilinear movement
`within said housing.
`Said housing may be provided with an exit hole
`which in use registers with the breech of the airgun, and
`through which pellets are passed from the pellet carrier
`and into the breech.
`The invention extends also to an airgun provided
`with a magazine in accordance with the ?rst aspect of
`50
`the invention.
`In a second aspect, the invention provides an airgun
`comprising:
`a magazine for containing a plurality of pellets;
`means for presenting the pellets successively adjacent
`the breech of the airgun; and
`transfer means for transferring into the breech each
`pellet that is presented adjacent the breech, the transfer
`means comprising a probe that is arranged to extend
`through the magazine to push the respective pellet out
`of the magazine and into a predetermined position
`within the breech.
`Preferably, the forward end of the probe cooperates
`with the mouth of the breech to provide a gas-tight seal
`when the probe places a pellet in said predetermined
`position within said breech.
`Advantageously, said forward end of the probe and
`the mouth of the breech may be correspondingly cham
`
`4,986,251
`4
`fered to provide interengaging surfaces which provide
`said gas-tight seal.
`Preferably, the magazine is arranged to grip at least
`the pellet that is presented adjacent the breech, and the
`probe is arranged to release said grip as it extends
`through the magazine to push the pellet into the breech.
`The probe may be arranged to release said grip by
`co-operating with the pellet carrier to move the pellet
`carrier by a small amount, as the probe extends through
`the magazine.
`In an airgun in accordance with the second aspect of
`the invention, the magazine may be in accordance with
`the ?rst aspect of the invention.
`The probe may be arranged to be withdrawn auto
`matically through the magazine after ?ring of the air
`gun, thereby to cause or permit the magazine to index to
`present the next pellet adjacent the breech.
`The probe may be arranged to be extended automati
`cally through the magazine each time the magazine has
`been indexed, so as to push the next pellet into the
`breech.
`The probe may be hollow to de?ne an air passage
`through which, in use, air passes to propel a pellet out of
`the gun.
`For a better understanding of the invention and to
`show how the same may be carried into effect, refer
`ence will now be made, by way of example, to the ac
`companying diagrammatic drawings, in which:
`FIGS. 1 and 2 are exploded views of a circular maga
`zine,
`FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate a loading sequence for the
`magazine,
`FIG. 5 is a magni?ed view of part of a section
`through the loaded magazine;
`-
`FIGS. 6, 7, 8 and 9 show part of an air ri?e in section
`with a magazine being inserted in a cocked gun which
`then goes through a sequence of loading and ?ring.
`FIGS. 10 and 11 show in section part of an alternative
`rifle con?guration with a magazine in place, going
`through a loading procedure;
`FIG. 12 shows an alternative circular magazine;
`FIG. 13 shows an alternative straight magazine, in
`simpli?ed form; and
`FIGS. 14 to 16 show further respective examples of
`straight magazines.
`In the ?gures, like reference numerals denote like or
`corresponding parts.
`A preferred magazine con?guration is shown in
`FIGS. 1 and 2 and consists of a housing in the form of
`an outer case 1, an inner pellet carrier 2, a transparent
`cover plate 3, a coil spring 4 and a combined ?xing
`screw/pivot 5.
`The outer case 1 has a circular recess 6, an exit hole
`7 for the pellets, an integral pellet stop post 8 extending
`from the base 9 of the recess 6, spaced from the wall 10
`of the recess 6 with one vertical face 11 of the pellet
`stop post 8 curved and aligned to match the adjacent
`edge 12 of the exit hole 7. An integral raised ridge 13 on
`the base 9 of the recess 6 is located between the post 8
`and the adjacent wall 10.
`A further integral circular post 14 is located in the
`centre of the recess 6 and has a blind hole 15 at its top
`to receive the ?xing screw 5. In a shoulder at the base of
`the post 14 is a small hole 16 to receive one end of the
`spring 4. Lugs 17 provide a convenient grip and a view
`ing hole 18 passes through to the inner recess wall 10.
`On the face 19 of the case 1 is formed a shallow recess
`20, open at one end.
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`45
`
`55
`
`65
`
`Ex. C&D 1009, page 10
`
`

`
`O
`
`5
`
`45
`
`25
`
`4,986,251
`6
`5
`typical pellet 39, thus producing a near-ideal confor
`The inner pellet carrier 2 has a series of chambers 21
`mity ratio equal to or very close to 1. As may be seen in
`to receive pellets, and each of the chambers 21 is of part
`FIG. 5, the diameter of the chamber 21 is very slightly
`cylindrical con?guration. An annular slot or channel 22
`greater than that of the pellet 39. The two areas of
`passes through the chambers 21, and is just high enough
`contact between the walls 40 and 41 of the chamber 21
`and wide enough to receive the post 8 without interfer
`and the pellet 39 are substantially opposite the abutment
`ence. The pellet carrier 2 is further formed with a cen
`face 11, and react the forces transmitted through the
`tral hole 23 with a small radially extending hole 24 off it,
`pellet 39 from the abutment face 11, which forces are
`and an annular recess 25 on the edge of an end face 26
`transmitted from the stressed spring 4. Thus, the forces
`which terminates in a narrow spur 27 extending to the
`applied to the walls of the pellet 39 in the FIG. 5 posi
`outer side 28. A similar annular recess 29 extends
`tion are in a substantially triangular con?guration.
`around the outer edge of the opposite end face 30 and
`By achieving this relatively large and triangulated
`ends in a narrow spur 31. Around the side 28 are pro
`area of contact, the spring force can be high enough to
`vided a series of sequential numbers and/or markings
`achieve rapid and reliable feeding and yet, because it is
`32, one adjacent to each chamber 21.
`spread over a relatively large surface of the pellet, result
`The transparent cover plate 3 has an outline corre
`in such acceptably low pressures that even a very soft
`sponding to that of the outer case 1, a countersunk
`and thin-walled lead diabolo pellet does not get dis
`central hole 33, a large, curved hole 34 and a stud 35 on
`torted or damaged.
`an inside face 36, adjacent to the hole 34.
`When the pellet 39 is removed, the carrier 2 will
`The coil spring 4 has one end 37 perpendicular to its
`rotate clockwise un'der spring pressure, with the post 8
`principal axis and the other end 38 parallel to it.
`passing through the channel 22, until the next pellet is
`The screw/pivot 5 is a countersunk, self-tapping
`brought up against the abutment face 11. It will be
`screw.
`appreciated that if, by chance, one chamber 21 has not
`The magazine is assembled as follows;
`received a pellet during loading, the carrier 2 will sim
`The spring 4 is inserted in the hole 23 in the pellet
`ply continue to rotate until the next full chamber 21 is
`carrier 2 with its end 37 engaged in the small hole 24.
`reached.
`The pellet carrier 2 is then ?tted in the recess 6 of the
`As each pellet comes up to the abutment face 11 in
`case 1 so that the central post 14 passes through the
`turn, the relevant number or marking 32 will become
`spring 4 and the end 38 of the spring enters the small
`visible through the viewing hole 18. Normally the num
`hole 16. The carrier 2 is rotated anti-clockwise against
`ber visible through hole 18 will indicate the number of
`spring pressure so that the spur 31 passes over the ridge
`chambers remaining to be brought up to the ?ring posi
`13 and is then held against the ridge 13 by spring pres
`tion, until the last chamber is reached, when a red or
`sure.
`other suitable mark will be visible. Alternatively, only
`The cover 3 is then mounted on the post 14 using the
`the last one or two chambers may carry an identifying
`screw 5 so that it is just able to turn freely and so that its
`mark.
`outline is coincident with the outline of the case 1.
`FIG. 6 shows a sectioned ?xed-barrel air-ri?e 49 in
`The magazine is loaded as shown in FIG. 3. The
`which the power source is a compressible spring 50,
`cover 3 is rotated in an anti-clockwise direction. After a
`located behind the barrel, which may be a conventional
`short movement, the stud 35 on the cover 3 engages the
`metal coil spring or a sealed gas spring in accordance
`spur 27 on the pellet carrier 2 and thus the carrier 2 is
`with UK. Pat. No. 2,084,704B. In FIG. 6, the spring 50
`rotated with the cover 3, and the spring 4 is wound up.
`has been cocked by pressing back a stud 51, attached to
`After the pellet carrier 2 has been rotated through
`a compression cylinder .52, by conventional cocking
`nearly 360° its spur 31 abuts the ridge 13 on the case 1
`lever means (omitted for clarity) until the piston 53 is
`and further rotation is prevented.
`engaged by trigger mechanism 54. By moving the com
`Placing a ?nger over the exit hole 7, a pellet 39 is
`pression cylinder 52 back, a space 55 is exposed within
`dropped through the hole 34 in the cover 3, into the
`an outer cylinder 56 and a magazine 57 (for example, of
`chamber 21 which is now in line with the exit hole 7. If
`the type illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4) can be inserted into
`the cover plate 3 is now released, the pellet carrier 2
`the space 55 through an aperture 58 in the outer cylin
`will rotate very slightly clockwise under spring pres
`der 56.
`sure until the pellet 39 is trapped between the walls 40
`On the rear face 19 of the magazine 57 is the shallow
`and 41 of the chamber 21 in the pellet carrier 2 (FIG. 5)
`recess 20, which engages with a correspondingly
`and the abutment face 11 of the pellet stop post 8, which
`shaped location guide 59 on the end of the barrel 60.
`will prevent further rotation.
`This ensures that the edge 12 of the exit hole 7 of the
`FIG. 4 illustrates how the cover plate 3 is then ro
`magazine 57 which is, in effect, a continuation of the
`tated manually clockwise and further pellets 39A, 39B,
`abutment face 11, is always accurately aligned with the
`39C etc. are dropped through hole 34 into each succes
`barrel 60, and in precise register with the breech.
`sive carrier chamber 21A, 21B, 21C etc. until the re
`FIG. 7 shows the magazine 57 in place, with a pellet
`quired number have been loaded (which may be less
`61 lined up with the breech 62. The cocking lever (not
`than the maximum, if desired). The magazine will then
`shown) attached to the stud 51 is in the process of being
`be ready for inserting in the airgun.
`brought forward and the compression cylinder 52 is
`FIG. 5 is a magni?ed view of part of a section
`moving in the direction of arrow B and is shown
`through the loaded magazine. It shows how the pellet
`halfway towards the ?ring position.
`39, about to be ?red, will always be located in exactly
`In FIG. 8, the compression cylinder 52 is fully for
`the same position, abutting the face 11 of the post 8. It
`ward, leaving compression chamber 63 fully open and a
`also shows the excellent conformity ratio achieved be
`hollow combination probe and transfer port 64,
`tween the walls 40 and 41 of the chamber 21 and pellet
`mounted in the end cap of compression cylinder 52, has
`39, and the abutment face 11 and pellet 39.
`passed through magazine 57 and pushed the pellet 61
`Preferably, the radius of the curved abutment face 11
`into the barrel. The probe 64 will seal the breech 62, for
`is substantially the same as the maximum diameter of a
`
`60
`
`65
`
`Ex. C&D 1009, page 11
`
`

`
`4,986,251
`8
`7
`example, either by close ?tting or by using an “O”-ring
`In this way, the arrangement shown in FIGS. 10 and
`11 may be made to load automatically or semi-automati
`on either the probe or in the breech. In a preferred
`cally, for so long as one or more pellets remains in the
`arrangement, the forward end of the probe 64 and the
`magazine 57.
`mouth of the breech 62 are correspondingly chamfered
`The probe 64 shown in FIGS. 6 to 9 is, as mentioned
`to provide interengaging surfaces that seal in a gas-tight
`above, preferably formed with a chamfered front end
`manner when the probe 64 is in its forward position.
`and a body diameter which is very slightly larger than
`The ri?e is now ready to be ?red.
`the pellet diameter, and it is arranged to be in exact
`In FIG. 9, the ri?e has just been ?red and the pellet 61
`registration (that is, exactly co-axial) with the breech
`is in transit through the barrel 60. The piston 53 has
`62
`moved very rapidly in the direction of arrow C, com
`Thus, when the probe 64 is projected forward into
`pressing the air in compression chamber 63 and forcing
`the magazine, its chamfered front end ?rstly engages
`it through the probe/transfer port 64 and down the
`the walls of the pellet chamber 21 and the abutment face
`barrel, pushing the pellet 61 ahead of it.
`11 and, as the body of the probe 64 enters the chamber
`When the ri?e is next cocked, the compression cylin
`21, it will be appreciated that this has the effect of caus
`der 52 will be forced back, carrying the piston 53 with
`ing the pellet carrier 2 to rotate very slightly anti-clock
`it and compressing the spring 50. The probe 64 is also
`wise (as seen in FIG. 5), thus releasing the grip on the
`connected to the compression cylinder 52 and will
`pellet 39 and allowing the probe 64 to push the pellet 39
`therefore be withdrawn from the magazine 57. As soon
`freely into the breech 62. Of course, it will be appreci
`as it is withdrawn, the spring-loaded pellet carrier 2 in
`ated that this sequence of events may take place very
`the magazine 57 will be free to rotate and the next pellet
`rapidly. Whilst retained in the chambers 21, the pellets
`will be brought into position, aligned with the breech.
`are maintained substantially parallel to the axis of the
`The transfer probe 64 repeatedly places each succes
`breech 62. The mouth of each pellet chamber 21 may be
`sive pellet 61 accurately in a predetermined position
`chamfered, to facilitate engagement with the probe 64.
`within the breech 62. Thus, as each pellet is ?red from
`It will be understood that, if there is a small clearance
`exactly the same position within the bore of the gun,
`between each pellet 39 and its respective pellet chamber
`high accuracy can be achieved.
`21, then each pellet is retained in the chamber by co
`FIGS. 10 and 11 show an alternative air-ri?e con?gu
`operation between the pellet carrier 2, the outer case 1
`ration in which the high-pressure air or gas reaches the
`and the cover 3, until such a time as the respective pellet
`breech through a transfer port 65. The power source
`39 comes to abut against the post 8, to bring it into a
`could be any suitable known system such as a compress
`position ready for loading.
`ible spring or springs running in a cylinder underneath
`By way of example for pellets 39 of 5.5 mm nominal
`and parallel to the barrel, or a liquid CO2 storage cylin
`calibre, having a maximum diameter of 5.75 mm, each
`der or a high-pressure, pre-charged air cylinder. In any
`pellet chamber 21 may have a diameter of 6.00 mm. In
`con?guration using high-pressure air or gas, operation
`such an example, the conformity ratio between the
`of the trigger mechanism will release a metered quantity
`pellet 39 and the walls 40 and 41 of the chamber will be
`of the air or gas through the transfer port.
`about 0.96. Preferably, the conformity ratio between a
`A bolt 66 is solid with a short, small-diameter spigot
`pellet such as 39 and the walls of a pellet chamber such
`67 and is shown with an “O”-ring 68 immediately after
`as 21 is greater than 0.90.
`shoulder 69 to seal the breech 62 and is shown in its.
`As will be appreciated, whereas the left hand side of
`rearward position, which enables the magazine 57 to be
`the pellet 39 engages the walls of the respective pellet
`inserted or removed.
`chamber 21 at two areas 40, 41 in the embodiment of
`FIG. 11 shows the bolt 66 pushed forward through
`FIGS. 1 to 4, the right hand side of the pellet engages
`the magazine 57, carrying the pellet 61 out of the maga
`only the single abutment surface 11. Therefore, it is
`zine 57 and far enough into the breech 62 so that the
`particularly advantageous that the conformity ratio at
`pellet 61 is just past the mouth 70 of the transfer port 65
`the abutment surface 11 is high. Preferably, it is greater
`and the bolt shoulder 69 is just behind the mouth 70.
`than 0.95, and can reach 1.0 with certain pellets. Of
`The bolt 66 will be lockable in its forward position by
`course, if the conformity ratio of the chamber 21 were
`known means. Thus, when the ri?e is ?red, the high
`to be as high as 1.0, or nearly so, then difficulty could be
`pressure air or gas will be able to escape out of the
`experienced in inserting the pellet 39 into the chamber
`mouth 70, ?owing past spigot 67, and forcing the pellet
`21, unless the walls of the chamber 21 were made of a
`61 down the barrel.
`resilient material.
`If desired, the bolt 66 may be arranged that it is left
`FIG. 12 shows, in diagrammatic form, an alternative
`unlocked, or locked only for a short period. Then, the
`con?guration to that shown in FIGS. 1 to 4.
`arrangement may be such that, when the high pressure
`The magazine 80 that is shown in FIG. 12 comprises
`air or gas escapes out of the mouth 70, it initially forces
`an outer casing 81 which is formed with a substantially
`the pellet 61 down the barrel and out of the gun but, at
`circular recess 82, in which there is rotatably mounted
`the same time, begins to act on the bolt 66 to push it
`a rotor 83, resiliently biassed in a clockwise direction by
`rearwardly out of engagement with the magazine 57—
`means of a coil spring 84. The outer casing 81 is formed
`for example, against spring pressure. Thus, as described
`with an inwardly projecting end stop 85. The rotor 83 is
`above in relation to the embodiment of FIGS. 6 to 9, as
`formed with a respective end stop 86. A cover (not
`soon as the bolt 66 is withdrawn from the magazine 57,
`shown for clarity) with a loading aperture will pivot on
`the pellet carrier 2 may index to present the next pellet
`a central ?xing (also not shown) and may be used to
`in line with the breech 62. Thereafter, the bolt 66 may
`wind up the rotor 83 in a broadly similar manner to the
`be again inserted through the magazine 57 to push the
`cover 3 in FIGS. 1 and 2.
`65
`next pellet 61 into the breech 62. The bolt 66 may be so
`The rotor is formed with a plurality of substantially
`semi-circular cut-outs, in each of which a respective
`actuated either manually, or as part of an automatic
`airgun pellet A1 to A9 is seated.
`mechanism.
`
`45
`
`25
`
`50
`
`Ex. C&D 1009, page 12
`
`

`
`4,986,251
`10
`leftmost position (as seen) and, keeping a ?nger over an
`As shown diagrammatically in FIG. 12, pellet A1
`outlet hole 99 of the outer casing 91, a ?rst pellet is
`abuts against the end stop 85 which, as in the embodi
`dropped into the position A1 shown in FIG. 14A. Then,
`ment of FIGS. 1 to 4, has a curved abutment face of a
`upon releasing the pellet carrier 92, the spring force
`diameter corresponding to that of the airgun pellets A1
`urges the pellet A1 against the curved abutment surface
`to A9. A probe mechanism serves to push the airgun
`of the end stop 95, to lock the pellet carrier in position,
`pellet A1 out of the magazine and into the breech of a
`in a manner analogous to that of the circular magazine
`respective airgun, ready for ?ring. Once the pellet A]
`of FIGS. 1 to 4. Thereafter, the remaining four pellets
`has been pushed out of the magazine 80, then the rotor
`can simply be dropped into the A2 to A5 positions.
`83 rotates under the force of the spring 84, to bring the
`The cover plate 96 i