AT526833A4 - Bullet magazine for crossbows and crossbows with such a bullet magazine - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a bullet magazine (20) for crossbows (1) for receiving a plurality of bullets (50) with a filling (52) surrounded by a burstable casing (51), with a bullet container (22) for a plurality of bullets (50) and a device (21) for fastening to the crossbow (1), as well as a crossbow (1) for firing projectiles (5). For the safe firing of bullets (50) with a filling (52) surrounded by a burstable casing (51), a channel (23) connected to the bullet container (22) via an opening (24) for accelerating and firing the bullets (50) via a bullet driver (26) is arranged below the bullet container (22) of the bullet magazine (20), wherein the opening (24) between the bullet container (22) and the channel (23) can be closed via a displaceably mounted magazine lock (25), and wherein the bullet driver (26) has a receptacle (27) for a bullet (50) and a groove (28) for arranging a string (4) of the crossbow (1) in a firing position.

Description

The invention relates to a bullet magazine for crossbows for holding several bullets with a filling surrounded by a burstable casing, with a bullet container for several bullets

and a device for attaching to the crossbow.

Furthermore, the invention relates to a crossbow for firing projectiles, with a shaft and limbs, between which a tensionable string is arranged, a retaining device for retaining the string in the tensioned state in a firing position, and with a trigger for moving the tensioned

Tendon from the retaining device.

Crossbows are well known in the art and are used in both sports and hunting. In contrast to bows, where an arrow is first brought into engagement with a string and then the limbs of the bow are tensioned by the strength of the archer, with a crossbow the limbs are first tensioned by pulling back the string connected to them and then the projectile, for example an arrow, is brought into engagement with the string. The limbs are tensioned either exclusively by the strength of the archer, with the support of tensioning devices such as tension levers or cable winches, or exclusively by tensioning devices which, for example, move the limbs in the longitudinal direction of the crossbow relative to a release device or a shoulder rest. Arrows, bolts or balls are used as projectiles. Balls as projectiles are usually made of metal, ceramic, wood or glass and can be hollow or made of solid material. For a better hit rate when shooting with such balls, DE 198 54 721 Al discloses a

Installation kit for crossbows has become known.

Firing bullets with a filling surrounded by a burstable shell, for example paintballs, which contain a liquid paint covered by a gelatin layer, or paintballs or pepper spray bullets, in which pepper dust or other powdered irritants are surrounded by a fragile shell, for example made of plastic, with the aid of

Crossbows are not yet widespread. One reason for this is

that the relatively fragile bullets with the burstable casing can easily be destroyed when accelerated by the crossbow string before they leave the crossbow or hit the desired target. If the bullet bursts while still in the crossbow, the crossbow can become dirty through the filling and

even be damaged.

The object of the present invention is therefore to create the above-mentioned bullet magazine for crossbows and a crossbow with such a bullet magazine, whereby a gentle firing of such bullets with a filling surrounded by a burstable casing is possible and the probability of the bullet bursting before leaving the crossbow can be minimized. The bullet magazine or the crossbow equipped with such a bullet magazine should be constructed as simply and inexpensively as possible. Should a bullet in the bullet magazine or the crossbow nevertheless burst accidentally, a simple and quick cleaning of the bullet magazine and the crossbow should be guaranteed. Disadvantages of known con-

structures should be avoided or at least reduced.

The object of the invention is achieved by an above-mentioned bullet magazine for crossbows, wherein a channel is arranged below the bullet container, which is connected to the bullet container via an opening, for accelerating and firing the bullets via a bullet carrier, wherein the opening between the bullet container and the channel can be closed via a slidably mounted magazine lock, and wherein the bullet carrier has a receptacle for a bullet and a groove for arranging a crossbow string in a firing position. The special design of the bullet magazine ensures that the bullets to be fired are stored carefully in the bullet container and that they are transferred carefully to a bullet carrier, which is accelerated by the crossbow string when fired. The crossbow string does not come into direct contact with the bullet to be fired. This means that bursting of the bullet in the bullet container and in the crossbow when fired and contamination of the crossbow can be largely avoided. The design can be relatively simple and, depending on the materials used,

(preferably plastic or metal) also relatively inexpensive

The bullet magazine constructed in this way can be offered as a retrofit kit for existing crossbows or can also be integrated into crossbows. Of course, the bullet magazine can also be filled with full bullets and such bullets

can be shot with the crossbow.

A closable filling opening is preferably arranged in the ball container in order to be able to load the balls with the filling surrounded by a burstable casing into the magazine or to remove them from the magazine. The filling opening can be closed with a lid or a bolt or the like in order to prevent the balls from accidentally falling out of the closed ball magazine. Any lid can preferably be opened and closed easily and without tools. A barb-shaped locking element, preferably spring-mounted, can also make it easy to fill the balls into the ball container and prevent them from accidentally falling out. The balls can also be removed from the ball container again by operating the barb-shaped locking element.

gel containers are possible.

The magazine lock has a driver that can be actuated by the ball driver, so that when the ball driver is moved into the firing position, the magazine lock can be moved preferably against the force of a compression spring and releases the opening between the ball container and the channel. This allows a new ball to pass from the ball container through the opening into the ball driver when the ball driver is in the firing position. Because the channel is arranged below the ball container, the transfer of a ball from the ball container to the ball driver in the channel below takes place via gravity or (even against gravity) via the force of a ball in the ball container.

arranged spring element connected to a slider.

If the ball carrier is designed in the form of a spherical cap, the ball can be stored particularly gently on the ball carrier. During the acceleration of the ball when fired, the forces acting on the ball are well distributed. This can reduce the risk of the shell bursting.

the bullet in the crossbow and thus a contamination of the arm

chest. The spherical cap is smaller than half a hollow sphere in order to accommodate the bullet to be fired.

possible.

If a bullet retainer is provided which holds the bullet to be fired in the firing position in the receptacle of the bullet carrier, it can be prevented that the bullet to be fired in the firing position falls off the receptacle of the bullet carrier.

mers rolls.

The ball retainer can be formed in a simple manner by a bracket with a retaining element made of elastic material. In the firing position, the retaining element protrudes slightly so that the ball cannot roll into the channel. When the ball driver is accelerated with the ball, the retaining element of the ball retainer is moved away by the ball so that the ball can move past the retaining element and be accelerated in the channel. The force for moving the elastic retaining element away must not be too high so that the shell of the

Ball is not damaged.

The ball carrier can have guide elements on both sides to guide the ball carrier along a guide groove of the crossbow when firing the ball. This allows the ball carrier to slide optimally along the channel on the shaft of the crossbow and prevents the ball carrier from tilting sideways.

employee can be prevented.

According to a further feature of the invention, the device for fastening to the crossbow is formed by at least two tabs, each with a hole and a fastening bolt that can be arranged in the holes. This enables particularly simple and quick assembly and disassembly of the ball magazine on the crossbow. If the ball magazine becomes dirty,

This can be quickly dismantled and cleaned.

Preferably, a mounting rail is arranged on the top of the ball container. Various accessories,

such as a targeting device or the like mounted

Commercially available crossbows often have mounting rails on the top or bottom of the shaft. A mounting rail on the bottom of the shaft

For example, a front handle can be attached.

If the ball container is designed to be removable, disassembly and assembly can be made easier, for example for cleaning purposes. Ball containers already filled with balls can also be prepared, thereby removing the ball magazine

be recharged more quickly.

The ball container can be formed by a substantially cylindrical storage channel for preferably 5 to 20 balls

be.

If a slider connected to a spring element is arranged in the storage channel of the bullet container, the bullets stored therein can be moved towards the opening. This supports the automatic loading of the crossbow. The slider also prevents the bullets from moving in a partially filled bullet container and thus being destroyed. The spring element connected to the slider must only exert a small force on the slider, so that destruction of the bullets in the bullet container is prevented.

can be.

The essentially cylindrical storage channel has a diameter that essentially corresponds to the diameter of the balls. Of course, the diameter of the storage channel must be slightly larger than the maximum expected diameter of the balls, taking tolerances into account, so that the balls cannot get stuck in the storage channel. This slightly larger diameter is determined by the

The term ‘essentially’ was used.

The object according to the invention is also achieved by a crossbow mentioned above, wherein the projectiles are formed by balls with a filling surrounded by a burstable casing, and a ball magazine as described above is provided.

Provided that the construction of the

bullet magazine and the crossbow, it is also possible to retrofit existing crossbows with the bullet magazine. For the advantages that can be achieved, please refer to the above description of the bullet

magazine.

Advantageously, the bullet magazine is detachably attached to the shaft of the crossbow. This makes cleaning the bullet magazine easier and the crossbow can also be used without a bullet magazine, for example when firing arrows.

bolts or screws should be used.

The bullet magazine can also be arranged so that it can be pivoted relative to the shaft. This makes it easier to clean the bullet magazine without having to dismantle the bullet magazine from the crossbow by pivoting the bullet magazine away from the shaft of the crossbow and holding it under a jet of water. Loading the pivoted bullet magazine with new bullets is also possible.

gels can be made easier.

The balls can be filled with a colored liquid. Such colored balls are usually used in paintball sports. A liquid mixture with food coloring is placed in a burstable shell, usually a

a gelatine shell.

The balls can also be filled with pepper powder. These so-called pepper balls are a type of ammunition that can be used by emergency services in a similar way to pepper spray. The balls, which are filled with capsaicin dust, for example, break on impact, releasing the irritant.

becomes.

A sighting device can be provided on the crossbow. Such a sighting device can be formed, for example, by an optical telescopic sight or a red dot sight, which can be mounted on the existing mounting rails or.

Picatinny rails can be mounted.

The invention is explained with reference to the accompanying drawings, which

Embodiments of the present invention show, in more detail

7127

Fig. 1A shows a crossbow with the bullet magazine according to the invention in plan view before firing a bullet;

Fig. 1B shows the crossbow with the ball magazine according to the invention according to Fig. 1A in a sectional side view along the section line I-I;

Fig. 1C shows a sphere with a filling surrounded by a burstable shell in a sectional view;

Fig. 2A shows the crossbow according to Fig. 1A in plan view during and after firing a bullet;

Fig. 2B the crossbow according to Fig. 2A in a sectional side view along the section line II-ILI;

Fig. 3A shows an embodiment of the ball magazine according to the invention in a perspective view;

Fig. 3B shows the ball magazine according to Fig. 3A in plan view;

Fig. 3C shows the ball magazine according to Fig. 3B in a sectional side view along the section line III-III;

Fig. 4A shows an embodiment of the ball driver in perspective view;

Fig. 4B shows the ball driver according to Fig. 4A in plan view;

Fig. 4C shows the ball driver according to Fig. 4B in a sectional view along the section line IV-IV;

Fig. 5A a detail of a crossbow with the bullet magazine in perspective view with a horizontal section in the area of the bullet magazine;

Fig. 5B shows the detailed view according to Fig. 5A in plan view;

Fig. 5C is a detailed view of the retaining element from Figures 5A and 5B;

Fig. 6A shows another embodiment of a two-part ball magazine; and

Fig. 6B the ball magazine according to Fig. 6A with separate ball container.

Fig. 1A shows a crossbow 1 with the bullet magazine 20 according to the invention in plan view before firing a bullet 50. Fig. 1B shows a sectional view through the crossbow 1 according to Fig. 1A along the section line I-I. The crossbow 1 has a shaft 2 or a center column and limbs connected thereto.

3. At the ends of the limbs 3 a string 4 is arranged,

which can be tensioned. The tensioned string 4 is held in a holding position in a retaining device 6, for example a retaining groove. A shoulder rest 10 can optionally be attached behind the handle 8. In front of the handle 8 is the trigger 7/7, via which the tensioned string 4 can be moved out of the retaining device 6 and a projectile 5 located along a guide groove 9 on the shaft 2 can be accelerated and fired. The projectile 5 is usually an arrow, bolt or ball (not shown). A mounting rail 13, a so-called Picatinny rail, can be attached to the underside of the shaft 2 and the top of the ball magazine 20 for attaching accessories such as a sighting device or a foregrip.

12 should be arranged.

A variant of a ball magazine 20 according to the invention for holding a plurality of balls 50 with a filling 52 surrounded by a burstable casing 51 is arranged on the crossbow (see sectional view of a ball 50 in Fig. 1C), which ball magazine 20 is explained in more detail below. The ball 50 has a diameter Dx which is, for example, 10 to 20 mm. This allows the crossbow 1 to be used to fire such balls 50. The ball magazine 20 has a ball container 22 for the balls 50 and a device 21 for fastening to the crossbow 1. A slider 45 connected to a spring element 44 can be arranged in the ball container 22, which moves the balls 50 in the direction of the opening 24. Below the bullet container 22, a channel 23 is arranged, which is connected to the bullet container 22 via an opening 24, for accelerating and firing the bullets 50 via a bullet driver 26. The opening 24 between the bullet container 22 and the channel 23 is closed by a slidably mounted magazine lock 25 and is only released when the bullet driver 26 is moved backwards into the firing position. The bullet driver 26 has a receptacle 27 for a bullet 50 and a groove 28 for the arrangement of the string 4 of the crossbow 1. As already mentioned above, the bullet magazine 20 can of course also be filled with full bullets or hollow bullets without filling (not shown) and the-

like balls are shot with the crossbow.

In Fig. 1B, the bullet driver 26 is in the firing position, i.e. in a rearmost position along the shaft 2. In this position, the magazine lock 25 is preferably moved against the force of a compression spring 33, whereby the opening 24 between the bullet container 22 and the channel 23 of the bullet magazine 20 is released. As a result, a bullet 50 located in the bullet container 22 can pass through the opening 24 into the channel 23 or onto the bullet driver 26 located therein via gravity or (even against gravity) via the force of the spring element 44 arranged in the bullet container 22 and connected to the slide 45. After the trigger 7 is actuated, the tensioned string 4 is released by the retaining device 6, whereby the bullet driver 26 with the bullet 50 located on it is accelerated along the channel 23 and the bullet 50 is fired as a result (see Fig. 2A and 2B).

Fig. 2A shows the crossbow 1 according to Fig. 1A in plan view during and after the firing of a bullet 50, and Fig. 2B shows the crossbow 1 according to Fig. 2A in a sectioned side view along the section line II-II. In contrast to Fig. 1A and 1B, the tensioned string 4 of the crossbow 1 was moved out of the retaining device 6 by actuation of the trigger 7, whereby the bullet driver 26 with the bullet 50 was accelerated along the channel 23. At the end of the channel 23, the bullet driver 26 is stopped and the bullet 50 is fired. When the bullet driver 26 is moved forward along the channel 23, the magazine lock 25 comes into operation and is moved forward by the compression spring 33, whereby the opening 24 between the bullet container 22 and the channel 23 is closed. This can prevent a bullet 50 from falling out of the bullet container 22 through the opening 24 into the channel 23 if the bullet driver 26 is not arranged in the rear position, the firing position. Only when the bullet driver 26 is moved back with the string 4 connected to it to cock the crossbow 1, the bullet driver 26 actuates a driver on the magazine lock 25 and thereby moves the magazine lock 25 backwards against the force of the compression spring 33, thereby releasing the opening 24 between the bullet container 22 and the channel 23. In this firing position, a new bullet 50 can again be fired from the bullet container 22 through the opening

24 fall into the ball driver 26 in the channel 23 and a new

shot must be prepared.

Fig. 3A shows an embodiment of the ball magazine 20 according to the invention in a perspective view, Fig. 3B shows the ball magazine 20 according to Fig. 3A in a top view and Fig. 3C shows the ball magazine 20 according to Fig. 3B in a sectional side view along the section line III-III. The ball magazine 20 serves to accommodate several balls 50 with a filling 52 surrounded by a burstable casing 51 (see Fig. 1C). The ball magazine 20 has a ball container 22 for the balls 50 (not shown) and a device 21 for fastening to the crossbow 1. Below the ball container 22 there is a channel 23 connected to the ball container 22 via an opening 24 for accelerating and firing the balls 50 via the ball driver 26 (see Fig. 4A to 4C). The opening 24 between the ball container 22 and the channel 23 is connected via a slidably mounted

Magazine lock 25 (see Fig. 1B and 2B) lockable.

A closable filling opening 32 is arranged in the ball container 22, through which the balls 50 can be filled into the ball container 22 of the ball magazine 20. The filling opening 32 can be closed, for example, by a lid (not shown).

or bolts (not shown).

The fastening device 21 can be formed, for example, by two tabs 39, each with a bore 40 and a fastening bolt 41 that can be arranged in the bores 40. This allows the ball magazine 20 attached to the crossbow 1 to be pivoted about the axis of rotation of the bolt 41, which can make it easier, for example, to clean the ball magazine 20 or to fill or empty the ball magazine with the balls. A mounting rail 13, in particular a Picatinny rail, can be attached to the top of the ball container 22.

ne, be arranged.

The ball container 22 is ideally formed by a substantially cylindrical storage channel 43 for preferably 5 to 20 balls 50. The substantially cylindrical storage channel 43 has a substantially the diameter Dr

of the balls 50 corresponding (or slightly larger) diameter

knife DD, on.

Fig. 4A shows an embodiment of the ball driver 26 in perspective view, Fig. 4B the ball driver 26 according to Fig. 4A in plan view and Fig. 4C the ball driver 26 according to Fig. 4B in a sectional view along the section line IV-IV. The ball driver 26 has a receptacle 27 for the balls 50 (not shown), which is preferably designed in the form of a spherical cap 31. This evenly distributes the pressure on the ball 50 and prevents the ball 50 from being destroyed during firing in the crossbow 1. The ball driver 26 also has a groove 28 for arranging the string 4 of the crossbow 1 in a firing position (not shown). The ball driver 26 has guide elements 29 on both sides for guiding the ball driver 26 along the guide groove 9 on the shaft 2 of the crossbow 1 when firing the ball 50. In the illustrated embodiment of the ball driver 26, the guide elements 29 are specially designed so that they support the hold of the string 4 of the crossbow in the groove 28. The ball driver can be made of plastic or metal. To reduce the weight of the ball driver 26, a hole 30 in the holder 27 in the form of the ball cap 31 can be provided.

be arranged.

Fig. 5A shows a detail of a crossbow 1 with the bullet magazine 20 in a perspective view with a horizontal section in the area of the bullet magazine 20, Fig. 5B shows the detailed view according to Fig. 5A in plan view. A bullet retainer 35 holds the bullet 50 to be fired in the firing position in the receptacle 27 of the bullet driver 26. The bullet retainer 35 can be formed by a bracket 36 with a retaining element 37 made of elastic material. Fig. 5C shows a detailed view of the bullet retainer 35 in the form of a bracket 36 with the retaining element

37 made of elastic material.

Finally, Fig. 6A shows a further embodiment of a two-part ball magazine 20. The ball container 22 of the ball magazine 20 is designed to be removable, which enables disassembly and assembly, for example for the purpose of cleaning.

can be made easier. Even with balls 50

filled ball container 22 are prepared and thereby the ball

gel magazine 20 can be reloaded more quickly.

Fig. 6B shows the two-part ball magazine 20 according to Fig. 6A with a separate ball container 22.

Claims (19)

Patent claims: 1. Bullet magazine (20) for crossbows (1) for receiving a plurality of bullets (50) with a filling (52) surrounded by a burstable casing (51), with a bullet container (22) for a plurality of bullets (50) and a device (21) for fastening to the crossbow (1), characterized in that a channel (23) connected to the bullet container (22) via an opening (24) for accelerating and firing the bullets (50) via a bullet driver (26) is arranged below the bullet container (22), wherein the opening (24) between the bullet container (22) and the channel (23) can be closed via a displaceably mounted magazine lock (25), and wherein the bullet driver (26) has a receptacle (27) for a bullet (50) and a groove (28) for the arrangement of a string (4) of the crossbow (1) in a firing position. 2. Ball magazine (20) according to claim 1, characterized in that in the ball container (22) a closable filling opening (32) is arranged. 3. Ball magazine (20) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the magazine lock (25) has a driver which can be actuated by the ball driver (26), so that the magazine lock (25) can be moved, preferably against the force of a compression spring (33), when the ball driver (26) is moved into the firing position and releases the opening (24) between the ball container (22) and the channel (23). 4. Ball magazine (20) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the receptacle (27) of the ball driver (26) in the form of a spherical cap (31). 5. Ball magazine (20) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that a ball retainer (35) is provided which holds the ball (50) to be fired in the firing position in the receptacle (27) of the ball driver (26). 6. Ball magazine (20) according to claim 5, characterized in that the ball retainer (35) is connected by a bracket (36) with a Retaining element (37) is made of elastic material. 7. Bullet magazine (20) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the bullet carrier (26) has guide elements (29) on both sides for guiding the bullet carrier (26) along a guide groove (8) of the crossbow (1) when firing the bullet (50). 8. Ball magazine (20) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the device (21) for fastening to the crossbow (1) is formed by at least two lugs (39) each with a bore (40) and a fastening element that can be arranged in the bores (40). fastening bolt (41). 9. Ball magazine (20) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that on the top of the ball container (22) a mounting rail (13) is arranged. 10. Ball magazine (20) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the ball container (22) is designed to be removable. 11. Ball magazine (20) according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the ball container (22) is formed by a substantially cylindrical storage channel (43) for preferably 5 to 20 balls (50). 12. Ball magazine (20) according to claim 11, characterized in that in the storage channel (43) a spring element (44) connected slider (45) is arranged. 13. Ball magazine (20) according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the substantially cylindrical storage channel (43) has a diameter (Dx) substantially corresponding to the diameter of the balls (50) corresponding diameter (Di). 14. Crossbow (1) for firing projectiles (5), with a shaft (2) and limbs (3), between which a tensionable string (4) is arranged, a retaining device (6) for retaining the string (4) in the tensioned state in a firing position, and with a trigger (7) for moving the tensioned ten string (4) from the retaining device (6), characterized in that the projectiles (5) are formed by balls (50) with a filling (52) surrounded by a burstable casing (51), and that a ball magazine (20) according to one of the claims 1 to 13. 15. Crossbow (1) according to claim 14, characterized in that the ball magazine (20) is attached to the shaft (2) with 16sbar. 16. Crossbow (1) according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that the ball magazine (20) is arranged relative to the shaft (2). is arranged pivotably. 17. Crossbow (1) according to one of claims 14 to 16, characterized in that the balls (5) contain a colored liquid as filling (52). 18. Crossbow (1) according to one of claims 14 to 16, characterized in that the balls (5) contain a pepper powder as filling (52). 19. Crossbow (1) according to one of claims 14 to 18, characterized in that indicates that a targeting device is provided.