1. Field of the Invention
The subject invention relates to firearms and more specifically to mechanisms that minimize fouling of firing components.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Firearms typically include a receiver that houses several working components of the firearm, including firing components, with a barrel extending from the receiver. There are various classes of firearms that operate in different manners. One class of firearm utilizes a bolt carrier is disposed in the receiver that is moveable between a firing position, from which a live round of ammunition can be fired, and a retracted position, from which a spent casing is ejected. The movement of the bolt carrier and ejection of the casing can be accomplished with a direct gas impingement or indirect gas impingement system. Examples of gas impingement type firearms include the M16, the M4®, such as the M4® carbine, and the AR-15®, such as the AR-15® Platform.
Firearms having the direct gas impingement system typically include an ejection port defined by the receiver. Direct gas impingement systems route exhaust gases back through the firearm to move the bolt carrier toward the retracted position. In particular, after firing the firearm, the direct gas impingement system routes exhaust gases, including any associated debris, from the barrel, back through a return tube to the bolt carrier, and out the ejection port of the receiver.
Firearms having the indirect gas impingement system do not route the exhaust gases back to the bolt carrier in an effort to reduce fouling caused by the exhaust gases that may occur with direct gas impingement type firearms. Instead, the exhaust gases are used to move a device, such as a piston, that engages the bolt carrier to move the bolt carrier toward the rearward position. However, this type of firearm is still susceptible to fouling of the firing components due to debris entering through the ejection port.
Some firearms include an ejection port door for covering the ejection port to prevent debris from entering the receiver and fouling the firing components. The ejection port door automatically opens in response to firing the firearm and/or charging the firearm, i.e. loading a live round into a chamber of the barrel. However, the ejection port door must be manually moved to the closed position by a user to prevent debris from entering the ejection port and thus entering the receiver. Accordingly, during stressful situations, such as a military situation, it is unlikely the user will consistently close the ejection port door after firing or charging the firearm, thereby allowing debris to foul the firing components and potentially cause the firearm to jam or fail.
The prior art has attempted to solve the problem of debris entering the ejection port. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,619,926 to Alday discloses a firearm having a receiver defining an ejection port window with a bolt assembly movably disposed within the receiver. The firearm further includes a cover plate coupled to the bolt assembly with the cover plate movable independently to the bolt assembly. Having the cover plate and the bolt assembly moving independently of each other in such a manner increases frictional wear between the components and thus increases the possibility of the cover plate and/or the bolt assembly failing.
Therefore, there remains a need to develop a firearm having a mechanism that automatically blocks an ejection port when in a firing position and minimizes, if not eliminates, fouling of the firing components.
The present invention provides for a firearm having a receiver defining a bore with the receiver extending along a longitudinal axis. The receiver defines an ejection port transverse to the longitudinal axis with the bore defining an inner surface. The firearm further includes a bolt carrier disposed in the bore and moveable relative to the receiver along the longitudinal axis between a firing position and a rearward position. The firearm also includes a shield longitudinally affixed to the bolt carrier and movable with the bolt carrier as a unit between the firing and rearward positions along the longitudinal axis with the shield blocking the ejection port when in the firing position and the shield sliding along the inner surface away from the ejection port when moving to the rearward position in conjunction with the bolt carrier.
The present invention further provides for a breech block mechanism for the firearm including the bolt carrier defining a hole extending along a bolt axis and moveable between an initial position and a mid position. The mechanism further includes a bolt disposed in the hole and movable along the bolt axis between a first position and a second position during movement of the bolt carrier between the initial and mid positions. The mechanism also includes the shield longitudinally affixed to the bolt carrier and moving with the bolt carrier as a unit along the bolt axis during movement between the initial and mid positions while the bolt moves between the first and second positions.
In addition, the present invention provides for a shield apparatus coupled to the bolt carrier. The shield apparatus includes a body having a middle portion, a first end portion defining a first recess and a second end portion defining a second recess. The first and second end portions extend outwardly from the middle portion away from each other. A first spring is mounted in the first recess and a second spring is mounted in the second recess for biasing the body away from the bolt carrier.
Additionally, the present invention provides for an ejection system for the firearm having the receiver defining the bore along the longitudinal axis and the ejection port transverse to the longitudinal axis. The system further includes the bolt carrier disposed in the bore and moveable relative to the receiver along the longitudinal axis between the firing position and the rearward position. A door is coupled to the receiver adjacent the ejection port with the door movable between a closed position covering the ejection port and a released position allowing the door to move away from the ejection port. The shield is coupled to the bolt carrier and movable with the bolt carrier between the firing and rearward positions with the shield blocking the ejection port when in the firing position and the shield spaced from the ejection port when in the rearward position. The system also includes a release mechanism having a first portion coupled to the shield and a second portion coupled to the door with the first portion engaging the second portion as the shield moves from the firing position to the rearward position for moving the door from the closed position to the released position.
Accordingly, the present invention defines a mechanism, in the form of a shield or a shield apparatus that minimizes, if not eliminates, fouling of the firing components, i.e. the action. In particular, the shield is longitudinally affixed to a bolt carrier to provide automatic blocking of an ejection port anytime the bolt carrier is in a firing position without having to manually close a door for preventing debris from entering the ejection port and fouling the firing components. In addition, the shield is longitudinally affixed to the bolt carrier and movable with the bolt carrier as a unit along a longitudinal axis for reducing frictional wear between the shield and the bolt carrier.
Other advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated, as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings.
Referring to the Figures, wherein like numerals indicate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, a firearm 20 is generally shown in
The firearm 20 can be of a certain class of firearms 20 that utilize a direct gas impingement system or an indirect gas impingement system to eject a spent casing 24 after firing the firearm 20. Examples of such types of firearms 20 include the M16, the M4®, such as the M4® carbine, and the AR-15®, such as the AR-15® Platform. However, it should be appreciated that the firearm 20 can be of any type without departing from the nature of the present invention. The firearm 20 described herein is designed to permit easy retro-fitting of the components to a variety of currently and/or previously manufactured firearm designs including direct gas impingement systems and indirect gas impingement systems. The indirect gas impingement system utilizes a piston assembly (not shown) for moving a bolt carrier 28, as further disclosed and claimed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/496,000 filed concurrently with the present application, which is incorporated herein by reference.
The firearm 20 includes a receiver 30 defining a bore 32 extending along a longitudinal axis L and houses several working components of the firearm 20, such as the firing components, i.e. the action. The bore 32 of the receiver 30 will be referred to as a first bore 32 throughout this description. As used herein, the phrase “along the longitudinal axis” includes components and/or movements aligning with the longitudinal axis L and/or spaced from and substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis L. The receiver 30 defines an ejection port 34 transverse to the longitudinal axis L with the first bore 32 defining an inner surface 36. As known in the art, the receiver 30 is often divided into an upper receiver portion 38 and a lower receiver portion 40 attached to the upper receiver portion 38. The upper receiver portion 38 defines the first bore 32 and the ejection port 34.
A magazine 42, also referred to as a clip, is detachably mounted to the lower receiver portion 40 and can be loaded with a plurality of live rounds 22. The firearm 20 further includes a trigger assembly 44 supported by the receiver 30. The trigger assembly 44 includes a trigger 46 and a hammer (not shown). The trigger 46 is pulled to move the hammer, which, as discussed further below, ultimately results in the firing of the firearm 20.
The firearm 20 includes a hand guard 48 that extends from the receiver 30 circumferentially about a barrel 50 such that a user can hold the hand guard 48 of the firearm 20. Details of the hand guard 48 are further disclosed and claimed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/496,003 filed concurrently with the present application, which is incorporated herein by reference. A buttstock 52 extends rearwardly from the receiver 30 for supporting the firearm 20 against a shoulder of the user. A hand grip 53 extends downwardly along the lower receiver portion 40 for gripping by the user.
The barrel 50 is coupled to the receiver 30 and defines a second bore 54 extending along the longitudinal axis L. The details of how the barrel 50 is coupled to the receiver 30 is further disclosed and claimed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/496,003 filed concurrently with the present application, which is incorporated herein by reference. The barrel 50 includes a breech 56 adjacent the receiver 30 and a muzzle 58 spaced from the breech 56 along the longitudinal axis L with the breech 56 defining a chamber 60 extending along the longitudinal axis L for receiving one of the live rounds 22. The live rounds 22 are individually loaded into the chamber 60 from the magazine 42. The chamber 60 aligns with the second bore 54 such that the bullet 26 moves out of the chamber 60 and the second bore 54 when firing the firearm 20.
The bolt carrier 28 is disposed in the first bore 32. The bolt carrier 28 is moveable relative to the receiver 30 along the longitudinal axis L between a firing position and a rearward position. Specifically, a bolt 62 and a firing pin 64 are carried by the bolt carrier 28. The bolt carrier 28 typically has features for automatically releasing another live round 22 from the magazine 42 into the chamber 60 as the bolt carrier 28 moves toward the firing position. As the bolt carrier 28 moves from the rearward position toward the firing position, the bolt carrier 28 catches or pushes another live round 22 into the chamber 60 of the barrel 50. In the firing position, the bolt 62 locks to the breech 56 of the barrel 50 to hold the live round 22 in the chamber 60. The firing components can include the bolt carrier 28, the bolt, the firing pin 64, the trigger 46, the hammer and other components as known to those skilled in the art.
When the bolt carrier 28 is in the firing position, the trigger 46 can be pulled to release the hammer, which strikes the firing pin 64. When the hammer strikes the firing pin 64, the firing pin 64 strikes the live round 22 to fire the live round 22, which causes the bullet 26 to move through and out of the second bore 54. After firing the live round 22, the bolt carrier 28 moves by gas impingement toward the rearward position and the casing 24, which is now empty, is expelled from the receiver 30 through the ejection port 34. The bolt carrier 28 automatically moves toward the firing position thereby automatically loading another live round 22 from the magazine 42 into the chamber 60.
Although the firearm 20 shown in the Figures is of the semi-automatic type or the automatic type, it is appreciated that the firearm 20 can also be a single-shot firearm 20 without departing from the nature of the present invention. A semi-automatic firearm 20 is one that fires a single live round 22 when the trigger 46 is pulled and thereafter automatically loads another live round 22. An automatic firearm 20 is one that individually fires multiple live rounds 22 with a single pull of the trigger 46 and continues to load and fire live rounds 22 until the trigger 46 is released. A single-shot firearm 20 requires manual loading of each live round 22 and fires a single live round 22 when the trigger 46 is pulled.
The firearm 20 includes the bolt carrier 28 disposed in the first bore 32 and moveable relative to the receiver 30 along the longitudinal axis L between the firing position and the rearward position. The firing position is shown in
The firearm 20 further includes a shield 76 longitudinally affixed to the bolt carrier 28 and moving with the bolt carrier 28 as a unit between the firing and rearward positions along the longitudinal axis L. In other words, the shield 76 and the bolt carrier 28 fail to move independently of each other along the longitudinal axis L which reduces frictional wear between the bolt carrier 28 and the shield 76. The concurrent movement of the bolt carrier 28 and the shield 76 also ensures proper positioning and operation of the shield 76. The bolt carrier 28 and the shield 76 are removable from the first bore 32 of the receiver 30 as the unit for providing easy cleaning and/or replacement of the components of the firearm 20. More specifically, the bolt carrier 28 and the shield 76 are inserted into the first bore 32 of the receiver 30 as the unit during assembly of the firearm 20 and the bolt carrier 28 and the shield 76 are removed from the first bore 32 of the receiver 30 as the unit during disassembly of the firearm 20. For example, the bolt carrier 28 and the shield 76 as described herein is easily retro-fitted into existing firearms by merely removing the existing bolt carrier.
The shield 76 is formed of a self lubricating polymeric material and more specifically formed of a thermoplastic material, such as an acetal polymer. Other suitable plastics include nylon 12, such as Lauramid® and Nyaltron®; polyoxymethylene; phenolic composites; or combinations thereof. Preferably, the self lubricating polymeric material is formed of Delrin® AF, which comprises an acetal homopolymer having a polytetrafluoroethylene filler, e.g. PTFE fibers. It is to be appreciated that other polymeric materials can also be used to form the shield 76.
Referring to
Also referring to
The first end portion 84 defines a first recess 88 and a third recess 90 spaced from each other and the second end portion 86 defines a second recess 92 and a fourth recess 94 spaced from each other. The middle portion 82 defines a fifth recess 96 and more specifically, the fifth recess 96 is spaced between the first and second recesses 88, 92. The first end portion 84 further defines a sixth recess 98 spaced between the first and third recesses 88, 90 and a dimple 100 disposed in an opposing relationship to the first, third and sixth recesses 88, 90, 98. In other words, the dimple 100 is disposed on the exterior side 78 and the first, third and sixth recesses 88, 90, 98 are disposed on the interior side 80. More specifically, the first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth recesses 88, 92, 90, 94, 96, 98 are disposed on the interior side 80 of the body. The first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth recesses 88, 92, 90, 94, 96, 98 and the dimple 100 will be discussed further below.
The shield 76 further includes an outer edge 102 and an angled portion 104 tapering toward the outer edge 102 along a part of the shield 76 with the distal rim 70 of the outer surface 68 and the angled portion 104 being complementary in configuration to each other. More specifically, the angled portion 104 is disposed on the interior side 80. The angled portion 104 tapers toward the outer edge 102 along the middle portion 82 and the first end portion 84 with the angled portion 104 tapering toward the outer edge 102 along a part of the second end portion 86. In other words, the outer edge 102 includes a flat end 106 along the second end portion 86 with the flat end 106 terminating at the angled portion 104. The flat end 106 of the shield 76 is complementary with the first end 72 of the bolt carrier 28 for preventing the shield 76 from interfering with the operation of the bolt carrier 28 or any other interference with other components of the firearm 20.
As best shown in
The firearm 20 further includes a securing system 118 attached to one of the bolt carrier 28 and the shield 76 for longitudinally affixing the shield 76 to the bolt carrier 28. In other words, the securing system 118 prevents the shield 76 from moving independently of the bolt carrier 28 along the longitudinal axis L while permitting the shield 76 to move independently of the bolt carrier 28 transverse to the longitudinal axis L. The securing system 118 can be of any suitable design and preferably includes a first peg 120 and a second peg 122 spaced from each other and more specifically, the first and second pegs 120, 122 extend outwardly from the outer surface 68 of the bolt carrier recess 66 for longitudinally affixing the shield 76 to the bolt carrier 28. Each of the first and second pegs 120, 122 include a lip 124 for engaging the shield 76 to longitudinally affix the shield 76 to the bolt carrier 28. More specifically, the lip 124 of the first peg 120 frictionally engages the third recess 90 of the first end portion 84 and the lip 124 of the second peg 122 frictionally engages the fourth recess 94 of the second end portion 86 for longitudinally affixing the shield 76 to the bolt carrier 28 while allowing tilting and/or biasing movement of the shield 76. In other words, the shield 76 is longitudinally affixed to the bolt carrier 28 in such a manner as to allow the shield 76 to move closer to and farther away from the outer surface 68 during biasing movement while also allow tilting movement of the shield 76 relative to the bolt carrier 28.
The securing system 118 further preferably includes a boss 126 extending outwardly from the outer surface 68 between the first and second pegs 120, 122 with the boss 126 disposed in the fifth recess 96 of the middle portion 82 for longitudinally affixing the shield 76 to the bolt carrier 28. The boss 126 and the shield 76 can be modified for the direct gas impingement system with the boss 126 defining at least one exhaust port (not shown) and the shield 76 defining an aperture (not shown) aligning with the exhaust port for exhausting gases therethrough, as further disclosed and claimed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/496,011 filed concurrently with the present application, which is incorporated herein by reference.
When the shield 76 is removed from the first and second pegs 120, 122 of the bolt carrier 28, the first and second springs 110, 112 remain fixed within the first and second recesses 88, 92. In other words, the first and second springs 110, 112 are integrated into the first and second recesses 88, 92 of the shield 76 by a friction fit or any other acceptable method, such as fasteners, welding, adhesive etc. Alternatively, the first and second springs 110, 112 can be integrated into the bolt carrier 28 without deviating from the scope of the invention.
As best shown in
Referring to
As best shown in
As used herein, the phrase “along the bolt axis” includes components and/or movements aligning with the bolt axis B and/or spaced from and substantially parallel to the bolt axis B. Specifically, the bolt axis B is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis L. More specifically, the bolt axis B aligns with the longitudinal axis L.
The bolt 62 is disposed in the hole 130 and movable along the bolt axis B between a first position and a second position during movement of the bolt carrier 28 between the initial and mid positions. The first position of the bolt 62 is shown in
The shield 76 is longitudinally affixed to the bolt carrier 28 and moves with the bolt carrier 28 as the unit along the bolt axis B during movement between the initial and mid positions while the bolt 62 moves between the first and second positions. For additional disclosure of the bolt 62 and the firing sequence, refer to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/496,000 filed concurrently with the present application, which is incorporated herein by reference. The bolt carrier 28, the shield 76 and the bolt 62 as described herein is easily retro-fitted into existing firearms 20 by merely removing the existing bolt carrier.
The breech block mechanism 128 further includes the biasing device 108 disposed between the bolt carrier 28 and the shield 76 for biasing the shield 76 outwardly away from the bolt carrier 28. The breech block mechanism 128 also includes a pin 132 disposed through the bolt carrier 28 and the hole 130 transverse to the bolt axis B for coupling the bolt 62 to the bolt carrier 28. The pin 132 extends slightly beyond the outer surface 68 of the bolt carrier recess 66 with the sixth recess 98 of the shield 76 aligning with the pin 132 such that the pin 132 fails to interfere with tilting and/or biasing movement of the shield 76.
Referring to
The ejection system 134 further includes a door 142 coupled to the receiver 30 adjacent the ejection port 34. The door 142 is movable between a closed position covering the ejection port 34, a released position allowing the door 142 to move away from the ejection port 34 and an open position completely spaced from the ejection port 34. The closed position is shown in
As best shown in
The dimple 100 includes a ramped surface 150 for engaging the second portion 146 as the shield 76 moves from the firing position to the rearward position. Referring to
Referring to
The latch 152 includes a ball 156 and a spring (not shown) attached to each other such that the spring continuously biases the ball 156 into engagement with the arcuate groove 154 when the door 142 is in the closed position. The latch 152 and the protrusion 148 are offset from each other such that the latch 152 and the protrusion 148 are in different planes and more specifically, the ball 156 and the protrusion 148 are in different planes. The door 142 includes an exterior surface 158 facing away from the ejection port 34 and an interior surface 160 facing the ejection port 34 with the latch 152 attached to the exterior surface 158 and the protrusion 148 attached to the interior surface 160.
Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. The foregoing invention has been described in accordance with the relevant legal standards; thus, the description is exemplary rather than limiting in nature. Variations and modifications to the disclosed embodiment may become apparent to those skilled in the art and do come within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of legal protection afforded this invention can only be determined by studying the following claims.
The subject patent application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/496,030, filed on Jul. 1, 2009, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,393,103 issued on Mar. 12, 2013, which claims priority to and the benefits of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/133,624, filed on Jul. 1, 2008 and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/211,228, filed on Mar. 27, 2009, the disclosures of each are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.
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20140026457 A1 | Jan 2014 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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61133624 | Jul 2008 | US | |
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Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 12496030 | Jul 2009 | US |
Child | 13796964 | US |