Losok Valkyr Rifle

Abstract

The current invention is a semi-automatic rifle, of the detachable magazine fed, air cooled, gas driven type. The rifle uses some parts from The M1 Garand Rifle U.S. Pat. No. 1,892,141, but differs in method of feeding, bolt operation, barrel design, receiver design, sight systems, and gas system design, therefore requiring a new patent application. The rifle solves shortcomings of the M1 rifle by the upgrading of the listed functions to enhance the rifle's use for the modern shooter.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The US Rifle M1 or M1 Garand Rifle was the main battle rifle of the US from 1936 to 1957. The rifle while advanced for the time was lacking in some areas that are now addressed by the invention in this application. The gas operating system employed on the M1 utilized an operating rod nearly as long as the barrel and gas cylinder that mounted very close to the barrel, for the rifle to work, the rod had to be bent in a manner to clear the stock. The bends in the rod and its length made it a fragile system not able to withstand pressures used in more modern ammunition or higher pressure calibers. The gas system also could not be adjusted to facilitate use of other ammunition, or to adjust to varying climates of use or to tune the rifle for better accuracy or reliability. The M1 rifle also fed from 8 round en bloc clips fed from the top of the rifle, requiring optics to be mounted on the side, and limiting magazine capacity to 8 rounds. The rifle also used an indirect bolt stop mechanism that acted on the operation rod, not the bolt itself. The design of the stock on the M1 rifle used two hand guards to cover the barrel and operating rod nearly to the muzzle, limiting barrel diameter, and preventing a free floating barrel/gas system. Rifles of similar design have usually suffered from similar limitations or multi moving part gas systems. Others have also been limited to short action rifle rounds of limited power and versatility. What is needed is a rifle comparable in simplicity to the M1 rifle with all its good qualities and rugged reliability when used as designed, but able to handle higher pressure loads, long action calibers, modern optics, and free float barrel groups for enhanced accuracy, while having available multiple barrel lengths and configurations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The current invention while similar to the M1 rifle differs enough to require a new patent application. The new invention utilizes a short, straight operating rod with piston attached directly to the rod, this type of system has fewer moving parts than other short stroke systems, and uses a gas cylinder with adjustable gas plug that is mounted and located on the bottom of the barrel by a simple pin and shoulder arrangement rather than a complicated spline cut set up. The gas feeds from the barrel to the cylinder via port drilled in the bottom of the barrel. The simple arrangement allows barrels and op-rods to be made to custom lengths and configurations as needed for various calibers and specialty users. The M1 rifle used an open top receiver design that loaded from the top, the new rifle is a closed top design that mounts optics on the integral rails at 12 and 9 clock positions (when viewed from the rear), and with detachable box magazine feeding from the bottom of the rifle. The receiver also mounts the bolt stop which is activated by the magazine follower upon firing the last round and released by a button on the exterior of the receiver, as opposed to the M1 rifle where it acted on the operating rod. The stock group of the current invention combined with the trigger group and receiver with integral magazine well serve to provide a free floating barrel and gas system for improved accuracy and reliability and forward optics mounting by the height adjustable hand guard with optics rail. The operation of the action of the current invention is also enhanced by the closely fitted operating rod guide and spring of a new design as compared to the M1 rifle which coupled with the straight operating rod provides smoother more accurate operation in all climates.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0003] FIG. 1. Receiver Left side View

[0004] FIG. 2. Receiver Right Side View

[0005] FIG. 3. Receiver top View

[0006] FIG. 4. Receiver bottom view

[0007] FIG. 5. Bolt Group Top View

[0008] FIG. 5A Bolt Group Side View

[0009] FIG. 6. Barrel Group/Gas System Assembled on Test mounting receiver

[0010] FIG. 6A Gas Cylinder

[0011] FIG. 6B Operating Rod

[0012] FIG. 6C Operating Rod Spring Guide

[0013] FIG. 7. Stock Group/Hand guard

[0014] FIG. 8. Trigger Housing Group Side View

[0015] FIG. 8A Trigger Housing Group Bottom view

[0016] FIG. 9. Magazine group

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] The invention is an improved Semi-Automatic Rifle with consisting of a Receiver group, Barrel Group, Bolt Group, Stock Group, Trigger Group, and Magazine Group. The Invention is designed to eliminate many of the issues that have been found in rifles like the US M1 Rifle, U.S. Pat. No. 1,892,141 and similar rifles such as weak gas systems, limitations pressure and caliber, limitations on barrel diameter and length, poor feeding designs, no adjustable gas system, poor optics mounting systems, week stock mounting points with lack of return to zero upon re-installation in the stock. The current invention addresses these through multiple simple changes and additions to the basic art of the semi-automatic rifle in a unique combination of parts in one rifle.

[0018] The part depicted in FIG. 1-4 is the receiver in the stripped configuration with no parts such as the bolt stop in place so to show the full extent of its design from four angles. The part is to be made of steel or other suitable material, by casting, forging, other methods. Proper heat treatment and surface preparation will be needed to ensure proper operation and enhance the toughness of the part.

[0019] The part in FIGS. 5 and 5A is the bolt group, this one of standard US M1 rifle size and origin while other sizes and configuration are to be available this is to be the most common size and configuration. The part to be made of steel or other material, and produced by casting forging, or the method with properties required to be similar to 8620 steel hardened to 55-59HRC to insure toughness and long wear.

[0020] The parts in FIGS. 6 through 6C. Comprise the barrel group and gas system. It is shown in only one configuration of the many that are possible. Illustrated is the short operating rod, and the gas cylinder, and in line nature of the system. Also pictured is the new operating rod guide. The parts are preferably made of ordnance grade steel but other materials can be used if treated properly and of suitable strength and wear characteristics. The parts to be made by any normal method such as milling, casting, forging or the like.

[0021] FIG. 7 Shows the stock group of the rifle in a standard rifle configuration with traditional stock, as well as the new hand guard and a short optics rail at 12 clock position. This part is made of any suitable material by an appropriate method for a gun stock. The hand guard is to be made of aluminum, properly treated or other suitable material for holding the threads required for its designed attachment to the stock.

[0022] FIG. 8 is the trigger group shown in standard configuration. The part to be made from steel or other suitable material. The part houses the internals of a standard M1 rifle trigger housing, plus a magazine release system, and guide arms to ease entry of the magazine to the well. The guide arms also serve to help lock the rifle into the stock, and locate the receiver by aligning with the magazine well of the receiver. The trigger guard is used to lock the trigger group to the receiver at the magazine well, and there by lock the rifle into the stock. The part to be milled, cast, forged or by other accepted methods. The heat treat of the material will key to extending its life and giving suitable performance.

[0023] FIG. 9 is the Magazine group, shown made from steel with internal parts also of steel, this part could also be made of aluminum, composites, or the other metals. The part to be stamped and welded or formed by other methods depending on material used. The part to be available in variations for various calibers and capacities.

[0024] The end user of the invention will see enhanced reliability, accuracy, versatility and longer life of this invention compared with current semi-automatic rifles available. While the listed configurations of the invention are the preferred embodiment at this time, those skilled in the art will see that minor changes to the methods, materials, or design will not depart from the invention, and therefore it is aimed to cover all such changes which fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. The rifle consists of multiple parts groups that work and function together to allow the operation of the rifle as a whole. The receiver group consists of the receiver housing which is the receiver, and its small parts such as bolt stops, and various pins to mount other groups to the receiver which is the heart of the rifle. The bolt group, consists of the bolt, its internal parts the firing pin, firing pin spring, ejector and spring, and the extractor and spring. The barrel group consists of the barrel and the gas system parts, the gas cylinder, operating rod, rod guide and spring and gas piston the barrel may also attach a muzzle device. The stock group consists of the stock, with fixed or adjustable butt stocks, and the hand guard which mounts to the stock with no contact on the barrel. The trigger group consists of the trigger housing and its internal parts which include the trigger, sear, safety, associated pins and the hammer, along with a trigger guard. The magazine group is the magazine housing, the follower, the spring and the floorplate.

2. The receiver listed in claim one 1 above to consist of a machined, cast, forged or other method of manufacture part of steel aluminum, polymer or other material part heat treated and finished by appropriate means. The part is designed to house a bolt group also used in the US M1 Rifle or of identical specification dimensions part or one of similar design of varying size. Part shall mount a barrel via any normal means such as threading, pinning or pressing. The part shall attach the rifle to the stock by working with the trigger group and other means as needed. The receiver to accept optical sight attachment at various points on the top and side of the receiver. The receiver to incorporate bolt stop activated by the magazine and mounted on the receiver its self and acting on the bolt. The receiver will also mount the points of the attachment for the operating rod, operating rod spring guide and trigger housing. The magazine well to be an integral part of the receiver not a separate part, and to also act as a recoil lug and location point for the receiver in the stock. The receiver can be made in various sized versions to accommodate larger or smaller cartridges.

3. The bolt group of claim one above can be either a USGI M1 Garand bolt and its component parts such as the firing pin and spring, extractor and spring, and ejector and spring, or a new manufacture part of the same design and dimensions for standard cartridges or of various sized versions with parts of the similar design to the USGI part for other size cartridges. The part to be cast, forged, machined or otherwise manufactured of appropriate materials heat treated or otherwise finished for suitable performance. The bolt to attach to the operating rod and gas system in the same manner as the M1 rifle, but to engage a bolt stop in the receiver housing itself, not like the M1 rifle.

4. The Barrel Group of claim 1 Above to consist of the barrel and gas system. The barrel to be made of steel or other material by any accepted means with rifling grooves cut by any industry accepted means to give acceptable performance. The barrel will be threaded and have a breech of the same design as the M1 rifle, but will differ in the method of stabilization and attachment to the stock and will not attach to the hand guard in any way. The barrel may mount a muzzle device as needed by a variety of means. The gas system to be mounted to the barrel by means of a pin and shoulder system with no spline cuts or other means as used in the M1 Rifle, and with much lower mounting level to facilitate the use of a straight operating rod. The operating rod and gas piston assembly to be of a much shorter and now straight type as opposed to the M1 type. The design of the this system to achieve a much improved capacity to handle higher pressures experienced by larger cartridges slower burning powders. The design of the system also eliminates the need to bend each rod in a very complex manner, and allows the use of shorter barrels. The length of the operating rod can be varied easily to accommodate any length desired or required to attain optimal operation with virtually any rifle configuration or caliber. The system to feature a gas plug that will allow the adjustable flow of gas back to the piston on the operating rod tip, to slow down or speed up the operation of the action of the rifle to obtain the best accuracy and reliability dependent on the caliber and conditions the rifle is to used in. The operating rod guide to be a of a straight type mounting to the receiver group and sized to fit the rod and spring to ensure the smooth straight flow of the operating rod and spring in all conditions. All parts of the gas system to be manufactured of steel or other suitable material by machining, forging, turning, casting and heat treated as need to enhance performance.

5. The stock group of claim one above to consist of a stock and hand guard system with either a conventional configuration butt stock or an collapsible version with an attached pistol grip. The stock can be made of any material, but shall have the following unique features. The stock to be designed to work with the magazine well design of the receiver in group one to locate the rifle in the stock by means of multiple surfaces on the magazine well acting as recoil lugs and the magazine well also functioning as a square pillar to locate the receiver and attached parts in the same position upon removal and reinsertion in the stock. The hand guard to mount to the stock only with no contact on the barrel in any position, the hand guard to feature adjustment in height to accommodate varying barrel diameters, and optic heights. The hand guard to mount an optical rail to facilitate the mounting of optics as needed at the 12, 3, and 9 clock positions. The stock and hand guard can be made to varying sizes to accommodate up or downsized rifles as needed.

6. The trigger group of claim 1 above to consist of a unique housing to locate internal parts of US M1 Rifle trigger group so that they will function in the rifle as originally designed, but also to secure the new rifle and magazine group in the newly designed stock. The housing to differ from the M1 Rifle in that the magazine release and other parts needed to function with a detachable box magazine have been designed in. The magazine release to be a spring driven part to engage the magazine and lock it in place with a convenient tab to release when needed. The new housing to be in contact with the magazine well along both sides. The housing to be made by machining, casting, forging, or other means from steel or other suitable material finished and heat treated as needed.

7. The Magazine group of claim 1 above to consist of steel or other suitable material box magazine sized to hold the desired cartridges of the receiver being used. The magazine consisting of the housing and its spring follower and floor plate. The magazine will fit the magazine well and insert from the bottom as opposed to the en bloc clip of the M1 rifle. The magazine can vary in capacity depending on use. The magazine to work with the trigger housing and group by fitting into position in the magazine well and stock and locking into place by means of a tab or similar protrusion or stop on the rear of the magazine that engages the release on the trigger housing.