U.S. patent application number 13/596907 was filed with the patent office on 2014-03-27 for heat sink rail system.
The applicant listed for this patent is Shanyao Lee. Invention is credited to Shanyao Lee.
Application Number | 20140082990 13/596907 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 50337472 |
Filed Date | 2014-03-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140082990 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lee; Shanyao |
March 27, 2014 |
Heat Sink Rail System
Abstract
A method and apparatus providing for a rail system which further
acts to cool a firearm. Wherein said cooling process acts by the
passage of air through fins of the apparatus. Whereby said method
and apparatus provides for a cooling mechanism which does not
inhibit the firearm from attaching accessories.
Inventors: |
Lee; Shanyao; (Irvine,
CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Lee; Shanyao |
Irvine |
CA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
50337472 |
Appl. No.: |
13/596907 |
Filed: |
August 28, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
42/96 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41C 23/16 20130101;
F41A 21/24 20130101; F41A 21/44 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
42/96 |
International
Class: |
F41A 21/44 20060101
F41A021/44 |
Claims
1. A rail system for a firearm comprising: A means to provide
attachments for accessories to said firearm; a means to cool the
firearm; wherein said means allows air to pass through fins within
said rail system;
2. The rail system from claim 1 wherein said fins are configured
axially along the axis of the barrel of the firearm.
3. The fins of rail system from claim 1 wherein said fins extend
inwardly or outwardly from the rail system.
4. The fins of rail system from claim 1 wherein said fins are of a
certain length in order to absorb or dissipate heat, such as a
length greater than 3 mm.
5. The rail system from claim 1 wherein said rail system does not
touch the barrel of said firearm such that the rail system can be
classified as a free-float system.
6. The rail system from claim 1 wherein said rail system further
comprises a series of o-rings dividing two layers of the rail
system;
7. The o-rings of claim 6 wherein said o-rings are made of
non-conducting material, such as silicon.
8. The rail system of claim 6 wherein the space between the two
layers of the rail system contains little or no air.
9. The rail system from claim 1 wherein the walls surrounding the
space between the two layers of the rail system are of a light
color such as white, such that the walls emit and absorb less
heat.
10. A firearm comprising: A barrel and firing mechanism such that
it can operate as a firearm; A means to cool the firearm; Wherein
said means to cool the firearm is a rail system which allows air to
pass through fins within said rail system;
11. The rail system from claim 10 wherein said fins are configured
axially along the axis of the barrel of the firearm.
12. The fins of rail system from claim 10 wherein said fins extend
inwardly or outwardly from the rail system.
13. The fins of rail system from claim 10 wherein said fins are of
a certain length in order to absorb or dissipate heat, such as a
length greater than 3 mm.
14. The rail system from claim 10 wherein said rail system does not
touch the barrel of said firearm such that the rail system can be
classified as a free-float system.
15. The rail system from claim 10 wherein said rail system further
comprises a series of o-rings dividing two layers of the rail
system;
16. The o-rings of claim 15 wherein said o-rings are made of
non-conducting material, such as silicon.
17. The rail system of claim 15 wherein the space between the two
layers of the rail system contains little or no air.
18. The rail system from claim 10 wherein the walls surrounding the
space between the two layers of the rail system are of a light
color such as white, such that the walls emit and absorb less heat.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The application relates to a method and apparatus for a
handguard rail system on a firearm with heat dissipating
qualities.
[0003] 2. Prior Art
[0004] Presently, most modern automatic small projectile weapons,
including machine guns, rifles, and sub-machine guns, use a
handguard made of aluminum or other metals with standard picatinny
rails in order to mount rifle accessories, such as a flash light,
scope, red dot, laser, vertical grip and others.
[0005] Though these rails are convenient for mounts and
attachments, these Aluminum and metal constructed handguards
conduct heat which transfers from the barrel, chamber and gas block
to the hand of the shooter quickly, as aluminum and other metals
have superior heat conducting ability. To prevent pain or burning
during use, shooters must wear gloves or other protection. Though
wearing gloves or other protection can keep the shooter's hands
safe from the issues of overheating that accompany present
embodiments of the prior art, the excessive heat will transfer to
the accessories on the rail and cause failure on the electronic
components.
[0006] One method for fixing the problem of an overheating rail
system or handguard is using polymer, wood or other heat resistant
materials to form the apparatus. This method slows or stops heat
transfer to the rail system by keeping the heat on the barrel of
the weapon. This method can cause the barrel to overheat, which
will shorten the barrel's effective life, make the weapon less
accurate and reliable in its shooting and may cause dangerous
cook-off (projectile fires automatically).
[0007] Most similar methods for avoiding damage or pain to the user
from gripping the firing side of a firearm employ methods that
remove a shooter's hand from the vicinity of the hot barrel,
generally through the use of material between the grip of the user
and the barrel of the firearm. This method is useful in preventing
the user from hurting himself or herself, but does not cool the
barrel itself and can in some cases cause more rapid overheating of
the barrel. Cooling the barrel is as important if not more
important than protecting the shooter's hand from painful heat
because overheating the barrel will shorten the barrel's effective
life, make the weapon less accurate and reliable in its shooting
and may cause dangerous cook-off (projectile fires
automatically).
[0008] It is common among rail systems to employ methods which
attach to the barrel at both the front and back ends of the rail
system. If the shooter grasps the rail system which is firmly
attached to the barrel at both ends, the shooter's grip will affect
the firing of the firearm negatively, therefore reducing accuracy
or potentially damaging the barrel.
[0009] There exists a need for a rail system which can provide heat
dissipating properties, thus preventing the overheating of the
barrel or gas tube, as well as preventing the overheating of the
rail system apparatus as well.
OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES
[0010] Accordingly, several objects and advantages of this
invention are: [0011] (a) To allow for the possible attachment of
accessories and/or mounted attachments to the weapon; [0012] (b) To
allow for the dissipation of heat from the barrel and gas tube to
prevent overheating that may be damaging to the weapon; [0013] (c)
To allow for the dissipation of heat from the rail system apparatus
such the shooter may be able to hold the rail system with reduced
danger of burning or such discomfort; [0014] (d) Free-float style
which only attaches to the barrel at one end, reducing the impact
of a shooter's grip on the accuracy of the firearm.
[0015] Further objects and advantages of this invention will become
apparent from a consideration of the drawings and ensuing
description.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0016] The following summary is provided to facilitate an
understanding of some of the innovative features unique to the
embodiments and is not intended to be a full description. A full
appreciation of the various aspects of the embodiments can be
gained by taking the entire specification, claims, drawings, and
abstract as a whole.
[0017] In accordance with the present invention, a method and
apparatus allowing for the dissipation of heat within a rail system
for a firearm.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the fully assembled rail
system on the barrel of a firearm.
[0019] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the rail covering alone.
[0020] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the outer cooling layer of
the heat sink rail system.
[0021] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the o-rings.
[0022] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the heat sink layer and
inner cooling layer of the heat sink rail system.
[0023] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a portion of the barrel of
the firearm with the heat sink rail system removed.
[0024] So that the manner in which the above recited features,
advantages and objects of the present invention are attained and
can be understood in detail, a more particular description of the
invention, briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to the
preferred embodiment thereof which is illustrated in the appended
drawings, which drawings are incorporated as a part hereof.
[0025] It is to be noted however, that the appended drawings
illustrate only a typical embodiment of this invention and are
therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the
invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
FIGS. 1, 7
[0026] With reference now to the drawings, the preferred embodiment
of the heat sink rail system according the present invention is
herein described. As can be seen in FIG. 1, according to certain
embodiments of the prior art, the rail system 100 is situated
around barrel 11 of the firearm 20. Rail system 10 contains holes
for air to pass through. Rail system 100 allows shooter to grip
firearm at a distance from barrel 11 such that heat from barrel 11
does not fully reach shooter's grip.
[0027] As can be seen in FIG. 7, according to certain embodiments
of the present invention, rail system 10 is situated around barrel
11 of firearm 20. Fins 12 extend inwards from inner layer of
cooling system 13. Inner layer of cooling system 13 is
circumscribed by o-rings 14, made, in certain embodiments of the
present invention, of non-conducting material, which are
circumscribed by outer layer of cooling system 15. Outer layer of
cooling system 15 is circumscribed by rail cover 16. Railing 17 is
part of rail cover 16 and allows for the attachment of accessories.
According to certain embodiments of the present invention, the
space between inner layer of cooling system 13 and outer layer of
cooling system 15 may be filled with little or no air. According to
certain embodiments of the present invention, rail cover 16
contains holes 18.
[0028] The foregoing description of the invention has been
presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not
intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise
form disclosed, and other modifications and variations may be
possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiment was chosen
and described in order to best explain the principles of the
invention and its practical application to thereby enable others
skilled in the art to best utilize the invention in various
embodiments and various modifications as are suited to the
particular use contemplated. It is intended that the appended
claims be construed to include other alternative embodiments of the
invention except insofar as limited by the prior art.
[0029] The invention may be embodied in other forms without
departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The
present embodiments are therefore to be considered as illustrative
and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by
the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and
all changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency
of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.
OPERATION
FIGS. 1, 7
[0030] As can be seen in FIG. 1, according to the certain
embodiments of the prior art, rail system 100 does not provide the
cooling capabilities of the present invention, and if it does, this
cooling is only cursory and not a main component of the design.
Rail system 10 operates as a guard against the heat of barrel 11 by
removing the shooter's hand from direct contact with the barrel,
but rail system 100 will have significant amount of heat and will
hurt shooter's hands.
[0031] As can be seen in FIG. 7, according to certain embodiments
of the present invention, rail system 10 provides cooling
capabilities by providing a medium for the removal of heat from the
barrel 11. The configuration of fins 12 oriented axially parallel
to the axis of the barrel 11 and situated around inner layer of
cooling system 13, allows for the passage of air through this part
of the rail system 10 and around the barrel 11, facilitating the
cooling of the rail system 10 and barrel 11 through the transfer of
heat between the air and the rail system 10 or barrel 11. According
to certain embodiments of the present invention, heat in the inner
layer of cooling system 13 will, either completely or in part, not
be transferred to outer layer of cooling system 15 because inner
layer of cooling system 13 and outer layer of cooling system 15
will only be connected by o-rings 14, which, according to certain
embodiments of the present invention are made of non-conducting
material such as silicon. Further, according to certain embodiments
of the present invention, the inside surface of the outer layer of
the cooling system 15 will be the metal's original silver color or
another light color. Further, according to certain embodiments of
the present invention, the outside surface of the inner layer of
the cooling system 13 will be the metal's original silver color or
another color. These adjacent light surfaces have a lower
propensity for absorbing and emitting light and heat. According to
certain embodiments of the present invention, the space between
inner layer of cooling system 13 and outer layer of cooling system
15 contains little or no air for the further reduction of heat
transfer between the layers. Furthermore, according to certain
embodiments of the present invention, rail cover 16 contains holes
18 which allow air to pass over or about outer layer of cooling
system 15, further cooling the rail system 10. According to certain
embodiments of the present invention, railing 17 allows for the
attachment of accessories or attachments on rail system 10.
[0032] Heat transfer can occur primarily through radiation,
contact, and convection. As can be seen in FIG. 7, according to
certain embodiments of the present invention, the control of heat
concentrations is manipulated through elements of these three types
of heat transfer. The primary source of heat originates from the
barrel 11; through convection, the heat from barrel 11 passes
through the air to inner layer of cooling system 13. Heat
originating from barrel 11 may also be transferred to inner layer
of cooling system 13 through radiation. Because of the heat sink
design, fins 12 can maximize the air contact surface which will
allow air to bring away heat. Heat from inner layer of cooling
system 13 physically contacts only o-rings 14 which are
non-conducting, therefore heat transfer to o-rings 14 is reduced or
prevented. According to certain embodiments of the present
invention, the space between inner layer of cooling system 13 and
outer layer of cooling system 15 contains little or no air,
reducing or preventing the effects of convection on transferring
heat to outer layer of cooling system 15. According to certain
embodiments, the outer surface of inner layer of cooling system 13
and/or the inner surface of outer layer of cooling system 15 are of
a light color such as white. White and other light colors both emit
and absorb less light than materials of other colors, thus reducing
the effects of radiation on the transfer of heat from inner layer
of cooling system 13 to outer layer of cooling system 15. Thusly,
according to certain embodiments of the present invention, very
little of the heat originating in barrel 11, remains in barrel 11
and very little reaches rail covering 16. This prevents the
problems of an overheating barrel while also working to reduce pain
or damage to the hand of the shooter if he or she chooses to grip
rail covering 16.
CONCLUSION, RAMIFICATIONS, AND SCOPE
[0033] Thus, the reader will see that the method and apparatus
provides for the dissipation of heat produced by a firearm during
operation. While the above description contains many
specifications, these should not be construed as limitations of the
scope of the invention, but rather as an exemplification of a
preferred embodiment of the invention. Many other variations and
embodiments are possible.
[0034] Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be determined
not by the embodiment illustrated, but by the appended claims and
their legal equivalents.
* * * * *