Adjustable Gas Regulator Valve for Firearms
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Solution Overview
Problem
Direct gas operated firearms face challenges in adjusting the amount of gas directed to the bolt carrier, leading to issues like feed jams, extraction failures, and misfires due to varying ammunition types, and existing adjustment solutions are prone to damage from heat and soot and require the firearm to be moved out of the shooting position.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable gas regulator valve with a gas inlet and actuator positioned on the upper receiver, allowing for adjustment of gas flow without moving the firearm, using a plug and actuator mechanism that can be controlled by a tool or ammunition cartridge rim to alter gas flow through the valve.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If an adjustable valve is incorporated into a front sight base or gas block, then gas flow adjustment is enabled, but the valve is subjected to damaging effects of heat and soot
Solution Approach 1:
The valve assembly is extracted from the front sight base or gas block location and repositioned to the upper receiver. This extraction removes the valve from the harmful environment of heat and soot while preserving the gas flow adjustment function through the repositioned valve body and actuator mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
A gas tube serves as an intermediary conduit, carrying gas from the barrel to the valve assembly located on the upper receiver. This intermediary structure allows the valve to be positioned away from the harmful heat and soot environment while maintaining its function of regulating gas flow to the bolt carrier.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the valve is positioned in the front sight base, then gas flow can be adjusted, but the shooter must move the firearm out of a shooting position to access the valve
Solution Approach 1:
The valve assembly is repositioned from a horizontal location in the front sight base to a vertical location on the upper receiver. This dimensional change allows the actuator to be accessed and operated while the firearm remains in a shooting position, eliminating the need to move the firearm upright for adjustment.
3Speed
If more gas is directed to the bolt carrier, then cycle speed increases, but feed jams, extraction failures, and carrier bounce occur
Solution Approach 1:
The valve assembly incorporates a adjustable plug mechanism that allows dynamic control of gas flow to the bolt carrier. This dynamic adjustment capability enables optimization of cycle speed while preventing excessive gas flow that would cause feed jams, extraction failures, and carrier bounce, thereby maintaining operational reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus and methods are provided for a gas regulator valve for adjusting cycle speeds of direct gas impingement operated firearms. The gas regulator valve comprises a gas inlet for receiving expanding gases from a fired cartridge and a gas tube for directing the expanding gases to a bolt carrier comprising a firearm. The gas inlet is disposed at the front of an upper receiver comprising the firearm. The gas tube directs the expanding gases into a carrier key of the bolt carrier. The gas regulator valve includes a plug for controlling gas flow through the gas tube. An actuator disposed on a side of the upper receiver enables operating the plug. The actuator enables a practitioner to adjust the flow of expanding gases without moving the firearm out of a shooting position. The actuator includes a key that may be turned by a rim of an ammunition cartridge.