Patent Grant
12092413
The present disclosure relates generally to firearms, and more particularly to clamping devices that secure a firearm barrel or barrel extension in the firearm receiver.
In recent years, military, law enforcement, and civilian users have increasingly demanded the ability to replace the barrel of a rifle without great effort. This can be done, for example, in order to be able to use barrels of different lengths or barrels with different calibers, in which the barrel axis/bore maintains its position in the upper receiver for each caliber. In the latter case, changes may have to be made to the locking mechanism and/or the lower receiver.
EP 2 363 678, corresponding to DE 10 2010 000 617, proposes connecting the barrel to a barrel extension, for example by means of a thread. This barrel extension fits into a circular cylindrical bore in the receiver (upper part) and is fixed by means of a rotatable eccentric. During the dismantling process, a front part of the pin, called a pin head, is pulled out of the receiver together with the barrel, which makes it difficult to change the barrel. The circular cylindrical bearing of the barrel, the angular position of which is only determined by a flat that interacts with the eccentric and which is always imprecise, and the “entrainment” of the pin head are extremely disadvantageous and lead to rapid wear and noticeable inaccuracies when used roughly.
EP 2 663 826, corresponding to U.S. Pat. Nos. 9,228,786, 8,813,406, 8,973,483, 9,038,525 and 9,488,423, the content of these five US documents is hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes, comprising in each case over 140 pages with over 80 figures, which are mostly further subdivided into views A-F, best seen in
In the assembled state, the barrel and the backbone are therefore in contact with one another in three places. The relative position of the two components is determined by the notch for the web, the contact between the prism that is a few millimeters long and the cylindrical surface of the backbone and other two contact points, which are purely form-fitting and therefore determined as a function of tolerance. In rough operation, such a design is not able to reach an exact position reliably and with repeat accuracy. There is also a risk that the lever will be lost as it is a loose and not overly large individual part.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,313,883, hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes, proposes to use the barrel with attached aiming devices and possibly mounted accessories (laser, light, etc.) to be held on the receiver by means of a mounting part that is firmly connected to the barrel and optionally formed in one piece with said barrel. This connection is achieved by means of two opposing toggle levers that clamp the fitting surfaces of the mounting part between them. It is particularly emphasized that the barrel is mounted in a “free floating” manner, which means that its position is determined by the forces acting on the two levers. This is probably sufficient for the contemplated “Squad Assault Weapons (SAW),” which are used at the shortest possible distance, but not for other areas of application.
US 2010/281742, hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes, proposes for a rifle a dismantling of the barrel that is similar to that of the first-mentioned documents: a circular cylindrical receiver with a fixing toggle lever and all the resulting problems.
It is known from DE 10 2009 051 416 to firmly connect the barrel to an extension that supports the actual connecting parts to the receiver, called the “lock box.” During assembly, the rear end of the extension, which is convex-rounded and inclined, is pushed into a complementary, concave recess of the receiver and pressed together with a toggle lever backwards in the running direction and attached. The relative position of the two parts is several times overdetermined and unfavorable for long-term dimensional accuracy due to the rounding, even when produced with modern, precise methods.
DE 10 2011 114 686, DE 20 2012 101 602 U and EP 2 913 622 propose slightly different solutions, i.e. to clamp the barrel with a circular cylindrical outer contour in a slotted extension with a circular cylindrical inner contour, which requires a purely force-fit and thus unreproducible position.
US 2015/308779, hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes, discloses the assembly of a barrel in a circular cylindrical ring in the receiver, with a type of flap on the underside of the receiver being pushed backwards when closing a collar of the barrel and with the underside and side areas in the rear section of the barrel being fixed by corresponding flank parts of the flap. Here, too, the accuracy of the attachment is inadequate, especially given the aforementioned significant heating of all components.
All the previously known solutions therefore have disadvantages, which relate particularly to the positioning that cannot be maintained during use, when heated, and usually also the risk of losing small parts such as fixing pins or screws. There is thus a need for a reliable, accurate, reproducible and yet simple and robust solution to the problem of changing the barrel in an upper part of a carbine.
The present disclosure is directed to firearms having a clamping device for a barrel or its barrel extension in a receiver of the firearm. The so-called upper receiver of the carbine contains at least one barrel with a barrel extension, a tension lever group, a locking mechanism, a firing pin mechanism, possibly a gas mechanism and a cover. This upper receiver is detachably connected to a lower receiver which contains, in general, a grip, a magazine well/holder and a trigger mechanism. In the assembled, ready-to-fire state, the latter is in an operative connection with the firing pin mechanism.
In one example, the present disclosure includes a firearm having an upper receiver, including at least one barrel having a barrel axis, a barrel extension that can be firmly connected to the barrel, a locking mechanism, and a firing pin mechanism; and a lower receiver, including at least one grip, a magazine, and a trigger mechanism; where the firearm is configured so that when the firearm is in an assembled and ready-to-fire state the upper receiver and the lower receiver are connected to one another; where the barrel extension is connected directly to the upper receiver using a clamp, or the barrel extension is connected to the upper receiver via a seat using the clamp; where the barrel extension defines a prism, and the clamp defines corresponding prismatic guide surfaces running parallel to the barrel axis when the firearm is in the assembled and ready-to-fire state; the barrel extension is fastened on the upper receiver by a tension lever, the tension lever being rotatable in the upper receiver about a common axis of rotation that extends normal to a weapon center plane between two end positions corresponding to the assembled and ready-to-fire position and a dismantling position, the tension lever further including at least one clamping section, an elongated grip, and a cam formed on the tension lever; the clamp and the tension lever are connected by a pin along the common axis of rotation through at least one clamping lever hole that extends normal to the weapon center plane; when the firearm is in the assembled and ready-to-fire position, the barrel extension rests with a rear stop surface on the seat, so that the barrel extension is clamped backwards by the cam against a forward direction of travel, and the clamping section biases the clamp in a vertical direction; and when the firearm is in the dismantling position, the clamping section and the cam lie entirely outside a path of movement of the barrel extension in the forward direction of travel.
The following description of the drawings address in further detail various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure as well as possible modifications. The barrel clamp of the present disclosure is explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings, in which:
As used herein, the term firearm includes any long gun, such as a rifle, but can additionally refer to carbines, repeating rifles, and the like, without limitation.
The terms left, right, up, down, front and back in the present disclosure always refer to the firearm from the point of view of the firearm when it is held ready to fire. The weapon has, going through the barrel axis and oriented vertically, a weapon center plane, which, cum grano salis, forms a plane of symmetry.
In the description and the claims, the terms “front,” “rear,” “above,” “below” and so on are used in the generally accepted form and with reference to the object in its usual use position. This means that, for the firearm, the mouth of the barrel is “at the front,” that the breech is moved “rearward” by the explosive gas, etc. Transverse to a direction substantially means a direction rotated by 90°.
In the accompanying drawings, the forward direction of travel is indicated by the arrow 91, the normal vertical direction by the arrow 93 and the transverse direction to the left by the arrow 92.
It is an aim of the present disclosure to provide a solution to the various drawbacks of the barrel clamping devices of the prior art. This is done according to the present disclosure via one or more of the features described below where the barrel extension defines a prism that is a solid polyhedron whose ends are the same size and shape and are parallel to one another, and whose sides are parallelograms that are prismatic guide surfaces running parallel to the barrel axis. On the one hand, the barrel extension and, on the other hand, a seat, possibly the upper receiver itself, are connected to one another by means of a clamp with the barrel extension and the clamp having prismatic guide surfaces that correspond to one another in the mounted, ready-to-fire state of the weapon and that run parallel to the barrel axis and the fastening of the barrel extension on the upper receiver being achieved by means of tension levers that are, in the upper receiver, rotatable about an axis of rotation running normal to the weapon center plane in the upper receiver between two end positions, the ready-to-fire position and the disassembly position.
The tension lever has at least one clamping section, a grip and a cam (or nose). A pin is used to connect the clamp and the tension lever along the axis of rotation, through at least one clamping lever hole formed normal to the weapon center plane. In the ready-to-fire position, the barrel extension can thus rest against the seat with a rear stop surface and be tensioned backwards by the cam counter to the running direction while the clamping section simultaneously exerts a bias on the clamp in the vertical direction. In the dismantling position, the clamping section and the cam are entirely outside the movement path of the barrel extension in the direction of travel.
In other words, a barrel extension is clamped by means of a clamp, which is mounted so as to be displaceable in the vertical direction, in a seat of the receiver or, if necessary, directly on the receiver. The barrel extension and the clamp have mutually corresponding prismatic guides. The guides are designed in such a way that they are substantially complementary in shape and to run parallel to the barrel axis in the mounted, ready-to-fire state of the weapon. The barrel extension is attached or released on the upper receiver between two end positions, the ready-to-fire position and the dismantling position, by means of a tension lever that can be rotated in the upper receiver about an axis of rotation normal to the weapon center plane, with at least one clamping section and a grip and a cam formed on the tension lever. A pin is provided to connect the clamp and the tension lever laterally, transversely to the weapon center plane, along an axis of rotation.
The clamp and the tension lever comprise at least one clamping lever hole that is normal to the weapon center plane, the axes of which coincide with the axis of rotation. In the ready-to-fire position, the barrel extension rests with a rear stop surface on the seat, or directly on the receiver, and is braced backwards by the cam against the direction of travel, while the clamping section biases the clamp in the vertical direction relative to the seat. In the dismantling position, the clamping section and the cam are entirely outside of the movement path of the barrel extension in the direction of travel, as a result of which the barrel and the barrel extension are released.
In the ready-to-fire state, the prismatic guide surfaces, namely the prism surface of the barrel extension and the clamping surface of the clamp, are braced against each other in the vertical direction. The corresponding prismatic guide surfaces can reduce the local surface pressure on the barrel extension and thus avoid local stress peaks on the barrel and any warping of the barrel, thus promoting the precision of the firearm. In this way, a positioning of the barrel relative to the upper receiver is possible with repeat accuracy. A relatively simple, but precise vertical and axial alignment and bracing in the upper receiver can be achieved by means of fewer moving parts. To put it simply, the barrel can be clamped by pressing an eccentric clamping section against the fixed support in the upper receiver or directly against the upper receiver when the tension lever is turned over, whereby the clamp is pulled down and the barrel extension is positioned fixed to the receiver.
In a particularly preferred embodiment, the seat has at least one slotted hole, whereby an additional guide for the clamp is formed in the vertical direction.
Further preferred embodiments include, for example, the formation of a slotted barrel extension, the shape and arrangement of, for example, cam, lugs, and various recesses, whereby a particularly stable mounting of the barrel and/or a small size of the clamping device are made possible and/or manufacturing advantages can be used.
A common axis of rotation 452 of the tension lever 4 and the clamp 6, which is defined by the respective bores, i.e., at least one clamping lever hole 45 and at least one clamp hole 65, is provided for the operation of the clamping device, which will be explained in more detail later. In simple terms, the formation of at least one clamping section 48 on the tension lever 4 in the closed state, i.e., in the ready-to-fire position, causes an elastic tensioning of the clamp 6 relative to the seat 5, whereby, via prismatic guide surfaces 321, 62 on the barrel extension 3 and the clamp 6, the barrel extension 3 is fixed with respect to the barrel 1. In the open state of the clamping device, the barrel 1 or the barrel extension 3 can be dismantled/assembled quickly and relatively easily since no components block the insertion or withdrawal in the forward direction of movement 91.
This basic idea is very easy to see in
For reasons of easier readability and brevity, the following illustration is reduced to one or more preferred embodiments, which are intended to make it easier for a person skilled in the art to easily grasp the variety of design options and modifications of the present disclosure. It is later up to the person skilled in the art, knowing the present disclosure, to optimize the shape and number of the components involved in the clamping device, such as the bores, lugs, prismatic guide surfaces and the like.
In particular, it should be pointed out that the following discussion is reduced to a preferred embodiment with slotted holes 55 on the seat 5, since in certain cases it may be advantageous to form a slotted hole on the seat. This way, for example, the installation play during the dismantling/assembly, i.e. an easier insertion of the barrel extension 3 into the clamp 6, can be increased. The common axis of rotation 452 accordingly runs within at least one slotted hole 55 on the seat 5.
As can be easily seen from
Furthermore, the manner of assembling or introducing the barrel assembly consisting of the barrel 1 and the barrel extension 3 into the upper receiver 21 can be derived from
An exemplary embodiment of a seat 5 is shown schematically as a side view in
It should be noted at this point that the embodiment of the seat 5 shown in most of the figures shows a further optional feature with two lugs 59, which are formed on the underside of the seat 5 and in which the slotted holes 55 are arranged. Likewise, the designs of only one lug 59 or a plurality of lugs 59 as well no lugs at all are likewise conceivable, in which case at least one slotted hole 55 leads directly through the seat 5 as a through hole. The modification of the specific embodiment of the seat 5 can thus be carried out relatively easily by a person skilled in the art on the basis of the explanations provided here, taking into account the geometric boundary conditions in the overall concept, in particular the overall height of a firearm to be developed.
In the preferred case where the slotted hole 55 is formed on the seat 5, the slotted hole 55 has a width 552 which substantially corresponds to a diameter D1—451—of the clamping lever hole 45 and/or the clamp hole 65, and whose length 551 is 1.1 to 2.5 times, preferably 1.2 to 1.5 times the width 552. Due to the common pin 42, the tension lever 4, the clamp 6 and thus also the barrel extension 3 can, within limits, be tensioned downwards in the vertical direction 93 into the ready-to-fire position or deflected upwards to release the barrel extension 3 in the forward direction of travel 91. The relative position can, in particular, be defined by the length 551 of the slotted hole 55 and the relative position to the clamping lever hole 45 and/or the clamp hole 65. In addition, the relative position and the insertion play can be influenced by the design and arrangement of the prismatic guide surface 321 of the barrel extension 3 and the corresponding clamping surface 62 of the clamp 6. It should be mentioned at this point that the formation of the prism 32 on the barrel extension 3 can also take place in an analogous manner on the clamp 6, as will be explained below.
The seat 5 in
In addition, a special embodiment can be seen in
Furthermore, the preferably designed guide extensions 67 are formed on the (partial) clamps 6 in
Depending on the embodiment, a person skilled in the art can accordingly optimize the position and number of the clamp holes 65 of the clamp 6, mutatis mutandis, to the seat 5 or the tension lever 4 explained below.
In a particularly preferred embodiment, the clamping surfaces 62 in the insertion area are tapered, or beveled, outwards in the forward direction 91, as can be seen from
In a manner similar to that of these tapers 68 on the clamp 6, it can be advantageous, as can be seen in
To explain the mode of operation of the clamping mechanism, reference is primarily made to a synopsis of
In
A further preferred embodiment can be seen very clearly in
Looking at
It should be pointed out at this point that it is incumbent on the person skilled in the art to adapt the shape and number of cams 41 to the corresponding task in accordance with the present object. The shape and number of clamping sections 48 of the tension lever 4 can be optimized as well. It has proven to be particularly advantageous to form two clamping sections 48 since in this way the local surface pressure on the seat 5 can be reduced. This can be advantageous for the useful life of the clamping device. It is of course also possible to provide three or more clamping sections 48.
The preceding description includes various exemplary embodiments for a barrel extension 3 which, as can be clearly seen in
In an alternative embodiment, the effective direction of the prismatic guide surfaces 321, i.e., the clamping surface 62 of the clamp 6 and the prismatic guide surface 321 of the barrel extension 3, is reversed from the preceding description. All of the previously described embodiments can be used mutatis mutandis. An example of such an arrangement is shown schematically in
A person skilled in the art can easily understand from the above description that, with the described clamping device, the barrel extension 3 and/or the barrel 1 can be clamped in the ready-to-fire position effectively and with repeat accuracy, but can also be exchanged relatively easily if necessary. The barrel 1 can be removed from the receiver 2 (not shown in greater detail) when the tension lever 4 is open. It is therefore possible to use both a barrel extension 3, matching the clamp 6, to accommodate different barrels 1 with, for example, different calibers, or, in the case of barrel extensions 3 integrally formed on the barrel 1, to exchange the corresponding barrels 1 with little manual effort and to position them in the receiver 2 with repeat accuracy.
The present disclosure is not limited to the illustrated and described exemplary embodiments, but can be modified and configured in various ways. In particular, the shown cross-sectional shapes of the mentioned receiver parts, pins, rails, recesses, etc. can be adapted to the given basic data, and the lengths and the positions with respect to the receiver can also be easily adapted by a person skilled in the art with knowledge of the present disclosure. In particular, equivalent designs are obvious with knowledge of the disclosure and can be carried out without further ado by a person skilled in the art.
It should also be noted that in the description and the claims, terms such as the “lower region” of an object, refer to the lower half and in particular the lower quarter of the overall height; “lowermost region” refers to the lowermost quarter and in particular an even smaller part, while “central region” refers to the central third of the overall height. For the terms “width” or “length,” this applies mutatis mutandis. All of these terms have their generally accepted meaning applied to the intended position of the object under consideration.
In the description and the claims, “substantially” means a deviation of up to 10% of the stated value, if physically possible, both downward and upward, otherwise only in the appropriate direction; in the case of degrees (angle and temperature), and for indications such as “parallel” or “normal,” this means±10°. If there are terms such as “substantially constant” etc., what is meant is the technical possibility of deviation which the person skilled in the art takes as a basis and not the mathematical one. For example, a “substantially L-shaped cross-section” comprises two elongated surfaces which merge at one end into the end of the other surface and whose longitudinal extension is arranged at an angle of 45° to 120° to one another.
All given quantities and percentages, in particular those relating to the limitation of the present disclosure, insofar as they do not relate to specific examples, are understood to have a tolerance of ±10%; accordingly, for example: 11% means 9.9% to 12.1%. With terms such as “a solvent,” the word “a” is not to be considered to represent a singular numeral, but rather is to be considered an indefinite article or pronoun, unless the context indicates otherwise.
Unless otherwise stated, the term “combination” or “combinations” mean all types of combinations, starting from two of the relevant components up to a plurality or all of such components; the term “containing” also means “including,” “having,” or “comprising.”
The features and variants stated in the individual embodiments and examples can easily be combined with those of the other examples and embodiments and in particular can be used for characterizing the present disclosure in the claims without necessarily including the other details of the particular embodiment or of the particular example.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19201455 | Oct 2019 | EP | regional |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2020/077111 | 9/28/2020 | WO |
| Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| WO2021/063891 | 4/8/2021 | WO | A |
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| Number | Date | Country | |
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| 20220341696 A1 | Oct 2022 | US |
