Improved firearm

Abstract

An improved firearm includes in some embodiments a gas block of an indirect impingement system mounted on the barrel near the firing chamber to provide gas at a higher pressure for moving the piston that moves the bolt carrier. Some embodiments include low frictions rails on which the bolt carrier moves within the upper receiver. The higher gas pressure and the reduced friction from the rails reduce the required stroke of the piston, allowing a shorter firearm to be constructed. In some embodiments, mating elements, such as pins and corresponding openings, on the upper receiver and the lower receiver, align and provide additional structural strength to the upper and lower receiver.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates to improvements on the design and operation of firearms.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Autoloading rifles are popular with military, police, and civilian shooters. Of the various autoloading rifle designs, few can compare with the popularity of the M16 family of firearms and its derivatives. The M16 family of firearms includes, but is not limited to, the AR15, M4, AR10, SR25, and others. Firearms typically include a receiver that houses several working components of the firearm, including firing components, with a barrel extending from the receiver. The M16 family of firearms typically includes a lower receiver that has a stock coupled to the rear end and that is connected to an upper receiver having a barrel coupled to its front end. The lower receiver typically houses the trigger assembly and provides a magazine well, into which a magazine containing ammunition may be inserted. Such firearms will be referred to ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

This patent is about an improved firearm design that reduces the required stroke of the piston, allowing for a shorter firearm to be constructed. The design includes a gas block that provides gas at higher pressure to move the piston and a direct impingement system that allows for more efficient use of the gas. The firearm also includes low friction rails that allow the bolt carrier to move smoothly within the upper receiver. Additionally, mating elements on the upper and lower receivers provide additional structural strength to the firearm assembly. Overall, these improvements make the firearm more effective and reliable.

Problems solved by technology

This play is unacceptable when precision shooting is required.

When subjected to a crushing force, the tubular structure tends to deform, causing the cross section of the upper receiver to change from approximately circular to oval, rendering the firearm inoperable.

Play between the contacting components allows misalignment of the bolt assembly with the receiver housing, increasing wear and misalignment of the bolt carrier as it cycles.

The bolt carrier assembly and receiver housing are subjected to high internal temperatures due to the hot gases used for weapon cycling and to friction between the bolt carrier and the bearing surfaces on the receiver.

Heat from the hot gases and friction can burn off or degrade essential lubricants.

The firearm components are also subject to non-linear cycling that causes stress and vibration.

These stresses can be compounded by environmental factors such as sand, dirt or other foreign material, moisture, fouling from gunpowder residue or degraded lubricant, and neglect, all of which can result in failure of the action to cycle properly or increased inaccuracy of the firearm.

These problems are especially evident during automatic or rapid semi-automatic firing.

Current strategies to combat these factors involve rigorous cleaning, lubrication, and other maintenance, which are time consuming and must be performed often.

Even a cleaned and well lubricated firearm can suffer from failures due to degradation of lubricants within the action of the firearm.

This problem can occur with firearms which are used infrequently, such as those in the arsenal of a police department.

If an entity possesses many such firearms, the maintenance required to ensure reliable operation can be a substantial burden in terms of time and expense.

A chief disadvantage to direct impingement systems is the introduction of hot combustion gases into the upper receiver and the bolt carrier.

These hot gases deposit fouling, which results from combustion of the propellant, throughout the upper receiver and bolt carrier.

This fouling reduces reliability of the firearm, requires frequent cleaning and inspection, and shortens the time required between servicing.

In addition, the hot combustion gases heat the bolt carrier and upper receiver, causing essential lubricants to burn off or degrade, reducing lubrication and further exacerbating the issues mentioned before.

The fouling deposited further increases friction between the dissimilar metals of the bolt carrier and the upper receiver, generating additional heat as the firearm cycles the bolt carrier.

The lubrication and potential fouling deposited on the bolt carrier also tends to accumulate additional environmental debris, such as sand, dirt, or dust to accumulate, compounding the problems.

Indirect impingement designs, however, increase the number of components, causing an unwanted increase in the weight of the firearm and serviceability problems with the more complex mechanism.

This can accelerate operator fatigue when holding the firearm in a horizontal position, such as when aiming and firing, as well as reducing the operator's ability to quickly pivot the firearm to engage potential targets.

The indirect impingement system has a relatively low tolerance for variation in the pressure of the exhaust gas used for cycling the firearm.

Gas pressures that are too low may fail to provide sufficient energy during operation, leading to incomplete cycling of the bolt carrier and subsequent failure to eject the spent casing or to load a fresh cartridge.

Gas pressures which are too high can cause mechanical failure of various components in the cycling parts or the firearm in general, possibly resulting in injury to the user or those nearby.

The sensitivity to gas pressure variation reduces the ability of the weapon to use cartridges with varying powder loads and bullet weights, which produce varying exhaust gas pressures at the gas block.

However, this system requires trial and error to determine the correct setting for a particular type of ammunition, as well as increasing complexity in the system and providing an additional point for failure of the firearm.

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