Claims
- 1. A method of actuating a bolt carrier group of a firearm, comprising:pressurizing a bore of a piston tube in response to firing a round of ammunition, wherein pressurizing the bore of the piston tube includes routing a combustion gas into the bore of the piston tube and through an adjustable pressure regulator; and moving a tappet assembly mounted on the piston tube from a static position toward a displaced position in response to pressurizing the bore of the piston tube, wherein the tappet assembly is engaged with a bolt carrier of the bolt carrier group and is coupled to an operating rod that is at least partially disposed within the piston tube.
- 2. The method of claim 1 wherein moving the tappet assembly includes translating a yoke of the tappet assembly along a longitudinal axis of a piston tube.
- 3. The method of claim 1 wherein the operating rod is disposed completely within the piston tube.
- 4. The method of claim 1 wherein the adjustable pressure regulator is adjustable between a plurality of pressure regulating positions.
- 5. The method of claim 1 wherein: moving the tappet assembly includes exposing a face of a piston mounted in the piston tube to the combustion gas; and the piston is coupled to the operating rod.
- 6. A method of actuating a bolt carrier group of a firearm, comprising:pressurizing a bore of a piston tube in response to firing a round of ammunition, wherein pressurizing the bore of the piston tube includes routing a combustion gas into the bore of the piston tube and through an adjustable pressure regulator; and exposing a face of a piston mounted in the piston tube to the combustion gas whereby a force is generated for moving a tappet assembly mounted on the piston tube along a longitudinal axis of a piston tube from a static position toward a displaced position in response to pressurizing the bore of the piston tube, wherein the tappet assembly is engaged with a bolt carrier of the bolt carrier group.
- 7. An apparatus adapted for actuating a bolt carrier group of a receiver assembly, comprising:a piston tube attached to a receiver assembly; an operating rod disposed in a bore of the piston tube; a piston engaged with a first end of the operating rod; a tappet assembly movably mounted on the piston tube and engaged with a bolt carrier; and an adjustable pressure regulator coupled to the piston tube.
- 8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the operating rod moves from a static position to a displaced position when a combustion gas is exposed to a face of the piston, the tappet assembly moving substantially in unison with the operating rod.
- 9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the tappet assembly includes a yoke movably mounted on the piston tube and a tappet rod attached to the yoke, the yoke being attached to the operating rod and the tappet rod being engaged with the bolt carrier.
- 10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the bolt carrier includes a bolt carrier lug disposed in a bolt carrier lug channel of an upper receiver body and wherein the tappet rod is engaged with the bolt carrier lug.
- 11. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the adjustable pressure regulator is adjustable between a plurality of pressure regulating positions.
- 12. An apparatus adapted for actuating a bolt carrier group of a receiver assembly, comprising:a piston tube attached to a receiver assembly; an operating rod disposed in a bore of the piston tube; a piston engaged with a first end of the operating rod, wherein the operating rod moves from a static position to a displaced position when a combustion gas is exposed to a face of the piston; a bolt carrier including a bolt carrier lug disposed in a bolt carrier lug channel of an upper receiver body; a tappet rod engaged with the bolt carrier lug, wherein the tappet rod moves substantially in unison with the operating rod; a yoke attached to the tappet rod and to the operating rod, wherein the yoke is mounted movably on the piston tube; and an adjustable pressure regulator coupled to the piston tube for regulating discharge of the combustion gas therethrough.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This is a Divisional Utility patent application to co-pending U.S. Utility patent application having Ser. No. 09/734,279 filed on Dec. 11, 2000.
US Referenced Citations (21)
Foreign Referenced Citations (2)
Number |
Date |
Country |
789217 |
Aug 1997 |
EP |
1215464 |
Jun 2002 |
EP |