U.S. patent application number 10/920929 was filed with the patent office on 2005-05-26 for modular barrel assembly.
This patent application is currently assigned to RA Brands, L.L.C.. Invention is credited to Jiranek, Marlin R. II, Keeney, Michael D..
Application Number | 20050108916 10/920929 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34426866 |
Filed Date | 2005-05-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050108916 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Keeney, Michael D. ; et
al. |
May 26, 2005 |
Modular barrel assembly
Abstract
A modular barrel assembly for firearms that includes a breech
section formed from a high-strength material and a barrel section.
the barrel section generally is formed separately from the breech
section and can be formed from a different, lighter-weight
material. Once formed, the barrel and breech sections are attached
together to form the complete barrel assembly.
Inventors: |
Keeney, Michael D.;
(Rineyville, KY) ; Jiranek, Marlin R. II;
(Elizabethtown, KY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WOMBLE CARLYLE SANDRIDGE & RICE, PLLC
P.O. BOX 7037
ATLANTA
GA
30357-0037
US
|
Assignee: |
RA Brands, L.L.C.
|
Family ID: |
34426866 |
Appl. No.: |
10/920929 |
Filed: |
August 18, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60498567 |
Aug 28, 2003 |
|
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60501884 |
Sep 10, 2003 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
42/76.02 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41A 21/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
042/076.02 |
International
Class: |
F41A 021/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A barrel assembly for a firearm, comprising: a breech section
formed from a high strength material; and a barrel section formed
separately from said breech section and adapted to engage and is
attached to said breech section to form the barrel assembly.
2. The barrel assembly of claim 1 and wherein said barrel section
is formed from a different material than said breech section.
3. The barrel assembly of claim 1 and wherein said barrel section
can be varied in length and is interchangeable with barrel sections
of other, varying lengths.
4. The barrel assembly of claim 1 and wherein said barrel section
comprises a barrel connector and a bore tube.
5. The barrel assembly of claim 1 and wherein said breech section
and said barrel section are metallurgically bonded by welding,
brazing, or soldering.
6. The barrel assembly of claim 1 and wherein said breech section
and said barrel section are mechanically attached by a threaded
connection, press-fitting, banding, or fasterners.
7. The barrel assembly of claim 1 and wherein said breech section
and said barrel section are attached with an adhesive material.
8. The barrel assembly of claim 1 and wherein the barrel section is
formed from a material selected from the group consisting
essentially of steel, aluminum, lightweight metal alloys, carbon
fibers, glass fibers, boron fibers, graphite fibers, nickel coated
carbon fibers, silicon carbon fibers, and ceramic materials.
9. A firearm, comprising: a receiver; a fire control; and a barrel
assembly comprising: a breech section formed from a first, high
strength material and adapted to mount to the receiver; and a
barrel section adapted to engage and connect to the breech section
down bore from the receiver, the barrel section being formed from a
second material of a lighter weight than the first material, and
formed separately from the breech section.
10. The firearm of claim 9 and wherein the barrel section is formed
from a material selected from the group consisting essentially of
steel, aluminum, lightweight metal alloys, carbon fibers, glass
fibers, boron fibers, graphite fibers, nickel coated carbon fibers,
silicon carbon fibers, and ceramic materials.
11. The firearm of claim 9 and wherein said barrel section
comprises a barrel connector, and a bore tube.
12. The firearm of claim 9 and wherein said barrel section can be
varied in length and is interchangeable with barrel sections of
other, varying lengths.
13. The firearm of claim 9 and wherein said breech section and said
barrel section are metallurgically attached by welding, brazing,
fusing, or soldering.
14. The firearm of claim 9 and wherein said breech section and said
barrel section are mechanically attached by a threaded connection,
press-fitting, banding, or fasteners.
15. The firearm of claim 9 and wherein said breech section and said
barrel section are attached with an adhesive material.
16. A method of forming a modular barrel assembly for a firearm,
comprising: forming a breech section from a high strength durable
material; forming a barrel section from a lighter-weight material
than the high strength material of the barrel section, the barrel
section being formed separately from the breech section; and
connecting the breech section to the barrel section to form a
completed barrel assembly.
17. The method of claim 16 and wherein connecting the breech
section to the barrel section comprises welding, brazing, fusing or
soldering the barrel and breech sections.
18. The method of claim 16 and wherein connecting the breech
section to the barrel section comprises adhesively attaching the
barrel section to the breech section.
19. The method of claim 16 and wherein connecting the breech
section to the barrel section comprises mechanically attaching the
barrel section to the breech section.
20. The method of claim 16 and wherein forming the barrel section
comprises roll wrapping a composite material about a mandrel and
removing the mandrel to form a composite material bore tube.
21. The method of claim 20 and further comprising applying a clear
tape about the composite material bore tube and curing the
composite material bore tube.
22. The method of claim 20 and further comprising attaching a
barrel connector to the bore tube.
23. The method of claim 16 and wherein forming the barrel section
comprises forming a composite material bore tube by filament
winding a fibrous material, and attaching a barrel connector to the
bore tube.
24. The method of claim 16 and wherein forming the breech section
comprises forging or machining a tubular member from a high
strength metal material.
25. The method of claim 16 and wherein forming the barrel section
comprises forming a composite material bore tube by pultrusion of a
composite material, and attaching a barrel connector to the bore
tube.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present patent application is a formalization of a
previously filed, co-pending provisional patent application
entitled "Modular Barrel Assembly" filed Aug. 28, 2003, as U.S.
Patent Application Ser. No. 60/498,567; and provisional patent
application entitled "Method of Forming Composite Barrel" filed
Sep. 10, 2003, as U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/501,884, by
the inventors named in this patent application. This patent
application claims the benefit of the filing date of the cited
provisional patent application according to the statutes and rules
governing provisional patent applications, particularly 35 USC
.sctn. 119(e)(1) and 37 CFR .sctn..sctn. 1.78(a)(4) and (a)(5). The
specification and drawings of the provisional patent application
are specifically incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention generally relates to firearms, and in
particular, to a modular barrel assembly for firearms.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] In the manufacture of firearms, and in particular long guns
including rifles and shotguns, the production of gun barrels has
been performed by a variety of different methods, all of which
generally produce a continuous tube. Typically, the tube is formed
from a high strength material, such as alloy steel, so as to be
capable of withstanding the extreme internal pressures generated
during the discharge of a round of ammunition. For example, with
the discharge of a shotgun shell, internal chamber pressures in
excess of 10,000-15,000 psi can be generated in the chamber and
breech sections of the firearm. Firearm barrels typically consist
of a chamber or breech region in which the round of ammunition or
shell is inserted, and a barrel tube defining the bore of the
barrel. Shotgun barrels further typically include a choke section
along the barrel, in which a removable choke tube can be received.
Externally, the size and length of the barrel tube can vary
depending upon the type of firearm, but usually is tapered from the
breech or chamber region toward the muzzle end of the barrel in an
effort to optimize barrel thickness and weight based on bore
pressure variations/reductions as the shot progresses away from the
chamber region.
[0004] Due to the significant taper or reduction in wall thickness
of most typical gun barrels, and in particular shotgun barrels, it
is generally not cost effective to machine or cut-down a solid bar
or tube having a uniform cross-section to provide the desired taper
and reduce the weight of the barrel. Consequently, most firearm
barrels typically are hammer forged from shorter blanks to form
tapered walled tubes between 20-34 inches in length. Although more
cost effective than machining, such forging operations still
typically require significant effort and processing to try to
ensure straightness of the bore and concentricity of the bore to
the outside surface of the barrel. More recently, various composite
materials also have been used to form firearm barrels, such as for
shotguns, but typically have required a metal liner along their
inner wall for protection, thus adding to their cost in terms of
both materials and manufacturing.
[0005] Accordingly, it can be seen that a need exists for a method
and system for forming barrel assemblies for firearms that
addresses the foregoing and other related and unrelated problems in
the art.
SUMMARY
[0006] Briefly described, the present invention generally relates
to a modular barrel assembly for firearms such as rifles, shotguns
and other long guns, and potentially handguns as well. The barrel
assembly generally will include a breech or upstream section that
generally mounts to the receiver or frame of the firearm, in
communication with the chamber of the firearm for receiving a round
of ammunition, and a barrel section that attaches to and extends
down-bore from the breech section. Typically, the breech section
will be formed from a high strength material such as steel,
although other high strength materials also can be used, using a
forging or machining type process.
[0007] The barrel section can be manufactured separately as part of
a different manufacturing process than the breech section. The
barrel section further can be formed in a variety of different
lengths, and can be made interchangeable with other varying length
barrel sections. The barrel section generally will include a barrel
connector, which typically is formed from a metal material such as
steel, similar to the breech section, and a bore tube or section
attached to the opposite end thereof. The bore tube or section can
be formed from a variety of lighter weight materials, including
aluminum, steel, various lighter weight metal alloys and even
synthetic and composite materials such as carbon, glass or other
fiber composites, and ceramics. The bore section further can be
formed using a variety of different processes, depending upon the
materials being used therefor, such as, for example, using a roll
wrapping, filament winding, or pultrusion type processes for
composite or synthetic materials such as carbon fiber, or rolling
or extruding where other types of material, such as metals, are
used. The bore section generally will be connected to the barrel
connector such as by an adhesive, although other types of chemical,
mechanical, and/or metallurgical bonding techniques also can be
used. A rib also can be formed with or can be attached to the bore
section to provide added stiffness for the barrel assembly. Still
further, a muzzle insert, typically formed from a metal such as
steel or other similar material, can be attached to the down bore
end of the bore section.
[0008] The breech and barrel sections of the barrel assembly of the
present invention generally will be attached together in a
downstream assembly step. The barrel and breech sections can be
attached together using metallurgical (welding, brazing, fusing,
soldering, etc.), and/or chemical (adhesives) bonding techniques.
Still further, it is also possible to mechanically attach the
barrel and breech sections together (such as via fasteners; a
threaded connection between the breech section and the barrel
connector; or through a press-fit arrangement between the two
sections and use of a locking ring) so as to enable removal and
replacement or interchangeability of the barrel and/or the breech
sections of the barrel assembly.
[0009] Various objects, features and advantages of the present
invention that will become apparent to those skilled in the art
upon reading the following detailed description, when taken in
conjunction with accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective illustration of an example
embodiment of a firearm incorporating the modular barrel assembly
of the present invention.
[0011] FIG. 2 is a perspective view schematically illustrating the
interconnection of the elements of the modular barrel assembly of
the present invention.
[0012] FIG. 3 is a perspective illustration showing a completed
modular barrel assembly according to the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0013] The present invention relates to a modular barrel assembly
10 (FIG. 1) for a firearm F, which generally will be manufactured
in multiple sections or portions using various different materials
so as to reduce manufacturing costs, scrap attributed to
straightness and concentricity issues for forming the barrel
assembly, while also enabling significant weight reduction without
adversely affecting performance of the firearm. In one example
embodiment, for purposes of illustration, the barrel assembly 10 of
the present invention is shown in FIG. 1 as being part of a shotgun
F having a receiver 11, including a forward portion at which a
chamber 12 of the firearm is defined; a fire control 13 including
trigger 14; a stock 16; a magazine tube 17; and a magazine cap 18.
It will however, be understood that the principles of the present
invention also can be used to form a modular barrel assembly for
various other types of firearms, including rifles and other long
guns, as well as potentially for hand guns.
[0014] As illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, the barrel assembly 10 of the
present invention generally will include a breech section or region
20 that will be attached to and communicate with a mating portion
of the chamber 12 of the firearm receiver 11, as shown in FIG. 1,
and a barrel section 21 that connects to and projects forwardly,
and down-bore from the breech section 20 and receiver 11.
Typically, the breech and barrel sections will be manufactured
separately and later assembled together to form a completed modular
barrel assembly 10 as shown in FIG. 3.
[0015] The breech section 20 generally will be manufactured from a
high strength material, such as steel, titanium, or other similar
high strength, rigid, durable metals or metal alloys, since the
breech section generally will be subjected to the highest internal
chamber pressures resulting from the ignition of the propellants in
a round of ammunition, such as a bullet or shot shell, during
firing of the firearm. As indicated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the breech
section typically will be approximately 8-10 inches, or
approximately {fraction (1/4)} to 1/3 the length of a completed
barrel assembly 10, although the breech section also can be formed
in greater or lesser lengths as needed. The breech section further
typically can be forged from a metal blank or tube, such as
conventionally used to manufacture entire barrel assemblies.
However, given the reduced size of the breech section, the forging
operations required to form the breech section accordingly can be
significantly reduced. In addition, since the breech section 20 is
significantly shorter than a conventional barrel, it can also be
machined from a uniform cross-section tube or bar without
significant material removal from the tube being required.
[0016] As further indicated in 1-3, the breech section 20 generally
includes an elongated tubular body 25 having a first or rear end
26, a second or forward end 27, and defines a bore passage 28
therethrough. The rear end 26 of the breech section generally is
formed as a collar or sleeve 29 having an enlarged or expanded
diameter that tapers, as indicated at 31, toward the forward end 27
of the breech section. The rear end 26 of the breech section is
adapted to engage and mate with the receiver 11 of the firearm F,
as indicated in FIG. 1, with the chamber 12 of the receiver being
aligned and in communication with the bore passage 28 extending
through the breech section 20. The rear end of the breech section
20 typically will engage and fit against the receiver in a
generally tight press-fitted arrangement, secured against the
forward face of the receiver as shown in FIG. 1.
[0017] As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the barrel section 21
generally will be manufactured separately from the breech section
20, typically using different manufacturing process than the breech
section. The barrel section generally will comprise the longest
part of the barrel assembly and can be formed in a variety of
different lengths as needed for different applications or firearms.
For instance, a shorter barrel length may be used for firing shot
shells to provide a wider pattern dispersion, while longer barrel
lengths may be used in applications where bullets or slugs are
used. The barrel section can also be interchangeable so as to
enable change-out of the barrel section to fit different
applications as needed or desired.
[0018] FIG. 2 further illustrates various components of the barrel
section 21, which generally includes first end 35 at which a barrel
connector 36 is mounted and which mates with the tapered forward
end 27 of the breech section 20 for connecting the barrel section
21 to the breech section 20 to form the completed barrel assembly
10 as shown in FIG. 3; and a second end or muzzle portion 37 that
can receive a muzzle insert 38 therein. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2,
the barrel connector 36 generally includes a tubular body 39
defining a bore 41 therethrough and has a first or rear end 42 and
a second or forward end 43. The barrel section 21 further includes
a bore tube or section 44 that can be formed in different or
varying lengths and further can be formed with internal rifling
along its bore 46 that extends therethrough and which is aligned
with the bore 28 of the breech section when assembled with the
breech section.
[0019] Since the pressure containment requirements of the bore tube
or section 39 of the barrel section 21 generally will be lower than
the breech section 20, the bore tube 39 can be made from a variety
of different, lighter-weight, materials than the breech section.
For example, various metals including steel, aluminum, and/or
lightweight, durable metals or metal alloys typically are formed by
forging or machining a tube of a desired length. Since there
generally is a minimal taper to the bore tube, and lighter-weight
metal materials can be used, less forging or machining, and thus
less scrap, typically will be required to form the bore tube from
such a metal material. Alternatively, for more significant weight
reduction, the bore tube 39 also can be formed from various
synthetic or composite materials such as fiberous material,
including carbon, glass, graphite, boron, nickel coated carbon,
and/or silicon carbon fiber, and resin composites, ceramics,
various high strength plastics, nylon and/or other similar, rigid,
durable materials. Example resins could include epoxy resins,
polylimide resins, polyester resins, thermoplastic resins and/or
other, similar resin materials. The formation of such a composite
or synthetic bore tube can be accomplished with a variety of
manufacturing techniques including filament winding, pultrusion,
and roll-wrapping processes.
[0020] In an example of a roll-wrapping process, a series of
layers, typically 3-4 or more layers or strips of a unidirectional
or balanced ply fabric material, such as a carbon fiber ribbon or
similar composite fabric material will be laid out in stacked
layers. Typically, a unidirectional pre-impregnated (prepreg)
fabric in which essentially all of the fibers of the composite
fiber fabric are pre-impregnated with an uncured resin will be
used, with a majority of fibers or filaments of the fabric material
bound in the hoop direction (approximately 90.degree. to the axis
of the bore 41, extending through the bore tube) and with the
remaining oriented longitudinally, substantially parallel to the
axis of the bore 41 so as to provide additional longitudinal
stability and tensile strength, or at varying angles, such as
approximately 45.degree. with respect to the axis of the bore so as
to provide further torsional stability to the bore tube. Dry
fabrics can also be used with the resin materials to be applied
during later processing at a later step. A mandrel, which will form
the inside diameter and surface of the bore tube, generally is
placed at one end of the stack or plies or layers of fabric
material. The fabric assembly then is rolled tightly around the
mandrel, such as by using a table having a fixed plate and moveable
plate that exert a load or compressive force on the stacked fabric
layers therebetween. The moveable plate will be slid in a direction
perpendicular to the axis of the mandrel, causing the mandrel to
roll the plies or layers of the fabric material onto the mandrel
under constant pressure to form a composite bar or tube, with the
mandrel in its center.
[0021] The composite bar or tube is then wrapped with a clear
ribbon or tape material, to maintain compressive stresses about the
exterior of the bar. The whole assembly is then cured, typically by
placement in a curing oven and being subjected to temperatures of
upwardly of 325.degree. F for approximately 2 hours, or at other
temperatures and for other times as may be necessary to cure the
resin material applied to the layers. Alternatively, the resin
material can be chemically cured, such as by amine/epoxy,
anhydride/epoxide and/or acid-catalyzed epoxide reactions. The
mandrel is then extracted from the cured bar, leaving the composite
bore tube. The exterior of the bore tube then generally is
finished, such as by sanding or grinding the exterior wall of the
tube, to provide a smooth, flat finish, after which a clear coat
typically is applied.
[0022] Alternatively, a composite or synthetic bore tube can be
manufactured using a filament winding process in which strips or
layers of a unidirectional fabric material are wound together using
a filament winding machine. During this process, the winding can be
stopped periodically for application of additional layers of a
unidirectional fabric, which typically are hand laid onto the
assembly to achieve a zero degree orientation of the layers in the
composite pre-form.
[0023] As a further alternative, a composite or synthetic bore tube
can be formed using a pultrusion method in which a composite
material, such as a ceramic or fibrous material having a resin
applied thereto, will be pulled through a heated die that serves to
further cure the composite material, to thus form a tube of a
desired length. Such a process is generally can yield the lowest
cost per unit length; however, it typically will not provide the
same levels of strength in the finished bore tube as provided with
roll-wrapping or winding methods.
[0024] The barrel connector 36 and muzzle insert 38 typically will
be formed form a standard alloy, steel, aluminum, or other metal
material similar to the breech section. The barrel connector 36 and
muzzle insert 38 can be attached to the bore tube at the opposite
ends thereof by various chemical methods of attachment, including
use of various types of epoxies, resins and/or other adhesive
materials for adhesively attaching the barrel connector and muzzle
insert to the composite material of the bore section. Additionally,
various other types or methods of attachment also can be used,
including, but not limited to, welding; fusing; brazing; soldering
or other metallurgical methods of attachment; and/or various
mechanical attachments, such as through the use of fasteners, such
as screws, pins, rods, banding materials, a threaded connection
between the barrel connector and bore tube, press fitting the
sections together, and/or other, similar connectors.
[0025] In addition, as shown in FIG. 2, a ventilated rib 47 can be
mounted along the breech and barrel sections for added stiffness or
rigidity. The ventilated rib component 12 can be constructed in a
piece (FIG. 3) or in multiple sections (FIGS. 1 and 2), and can be
formed from various materials such as aluminum or other metals, or
from various synthetic composite materials such as carbon fiber
similar to the bore tube 39 for lighter weight. The rib component
47 can be affixed or attached to the breech and barrel sections by
the use of an epoxy or similar adhesive material, fusing, welding,
brazing (i.e., for attaching a metal rib to a metal bore tube and
breech section), fasteners, or it can be formed with the bore tube
of the barrel section during manufacture of the bore tube.
[0026] To assemble the barrel assembly of the present invention,
the barrel section will be attached to the breech section, as
indicated in FIGS. 2 and 3, with the tapered forward end 14 of the
breech section 11 generally being received with a tight fitting
engagement within the open rear end 42 of the body 39 of the barrel
connector 36 and with their rib component sections 47 aligned.
Typically, breech and barrel sections of the barrel assembly 10 can
be metallurgically attached, such as by welding, fusing, brazing,
soldering, or similar attachments; mechanically attached through
the use of fasteners such as pins, rods, screws, banding materials,
threaded connections between the sections, and/or other, similar
connectors; or chemically bonded or attached together through the
use of epoxies, resins, or other adhesive materials. As a result,
the breech and barrel sections can be fixedly attached to one
another to form the completed barrel assembly 10, as indicated in
FIG. 3.
[0027] In addition, for a barrel assembly for a shotgun, such as
generally illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the barrel connector 36 can
include a locking ring 48 along its lower portion in which one end
of the magazine tube 17 will be received, as shown in FIG. 1, with
the magazine cap 18 generally being screwed or otherwise affixed to
the magazine plug to secure the barrel assembly to the receiver of
the firearm. The engagement of the cap 18 with the magazine tube 17
at the locking ring 48 thus secures the breech and barrel sections
of the barrel assembly 10 together in a tight fitting, engaged
relationship to prevent blowback or gas leakage. Such a connection
further can enable quick and easy replacement of the barrel section
of the barrel, without having to replace the entire barrel of the
firearm.
[0028] It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the
principles of the present invention can be adapted to formation of
barrel assemblies for a variety of different firearms, including
rifles, shotguns and other long guns, as well as potentially to
handguns as needed or desired. The module barrel system of the
present invention thus enables the interchangeability of firearm
barrels for quick conversion of a firearm to fire different types
of rounds of ammunition, such as shot shells, rifle slugs, etc.,
and to provide ease of repair and replacement for a firearm barrel
as needed. The present invention further enables the use of lighter
weight materials during the manufacture of a barrel assembly, which
enables a significant cost and weight reductions for the barrel
assembly and thus its firearm, as well as ease of manufacture for
the barrel assembly.
[0029] It will be further understood by those skilled in the art
that while the foregoing has been disclosed above with respect to
preferred embodiments or features, various additions, changes, and
modifications can be made to the foregoing invention without
departing from the spirit and scope of thereof.
* * * * *