Firearm assembly
The present invention includes a receiver for a firearm having a front recess to receive a barrel. The receiver has a load/eject recess port open to the front recess and to a side or bottom of the receiver to allow the insertion and removal of a cartridge from the receiver. A slit along the front recess and the load/eject recess port together form a single opening along the receiver whereby the receiver can expand to allow the insertion of a barrel into the front recess. Included is a firearm having the receiver of the invention.
Various methods and configurations for safe and reliable firearms have been developed in the storied history of small arms development. With the advent of smokeless powder in the late 19th century, and the subsequent development of more powerful chamberings in the early 20th century, bolt-action firearms were developed as a way to handle the increased pressures of firing these larger, more powerful rounds. These improvements have continued to develop and advance ballistic performance and have resulted in some very large cartridges, including the 0.50 BMG.
Generally, a bolt-action firearm comprises a bolt which houses a firing pin. The bolt slides within the firearm receiver between a rearward position which allows loading and unloading of a cartridge, and a forward position. As the bolt slides forward, the cartridge is pushed forward into a firing chamber. The bolt is then typically closed by rotating it into a battery position, thus locking the bolt behind the cartridge. The firing pin is then activated by pulling the trigger which causes the firearm to discharge. To expel the empty casing, the bolt is rotated out of its locked position and slid rearward to extract the empty casing.
As a part of the empty casing extraction, different extractors have been developed. Most throw the casing outward and away from the firearm in either an upward or sidewise direction. This can cause a variety of problems, including striking the user or a bystander, and losing the empty casing which the user often may wish to retain. It is also a problem in military or law enforcement situations when such movement of the flying casing could reveal the location of the shooter. This is especially undesirable in sniping situations.
Another problem which is often sought to be resolved in a variety of ways includes the prevention of accidental or unintended discharge. Because the firing pin is typically disposed within the bolt, and the bolt (as described above) is typically pushed forward against the rear of the cartridge as the cartridge is advanced into the firing chamber, the potential for unintended discharge of the weapon is present, particularly as the bolt is thrown forward to chamber a round. A variety of solutions have been developed, with varying degrees of success.
Still another problem encountered with the development of higher chamber pressures is seen in the materials used to build these firearms. With the larger pressures generated by the development of larger and more powerful magnum loads and larger cases, more and more material was needed in order to obtain adequate strength. Competing with these increased material dimensions, however, is a desire for lighter-weight (and/or less costly) firearms. One way to remedy the weight problem is to use lighter weight materials (e.g., aluminum instead of steel), but strength problems can result. Thus, some prior art attempts at building adequately strong, yet light weight receivers, have included using aluminum and other light weight materials or alloys where possible in the firearm. This introduced manufacturing challenges, however, because heat treatments and other manufacturing requirements treated the different materials differently.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention provides a receiver for a firearm comprising a front, at least two sides, and a bottom. The receiver has a front recess to receive a barrel or barrel extension, and is defined by a channel in the receiver which is open longitudinally along a longitudinal slit in the receiver. The receiver also has a load/eject recess open to the front recess and to either a side or bottom of the receiver. The load/eject recess is sized to allow the insertion and removal of a cartridge from the receiver. The slit and the load/eject recess together form a single opening to the receiver whereby the receiver can expand to allow the insertion of a barrel or barrel extension into the front recess. In a preferred embodiment, the slit and load/eject recess are open to the bottom of the receiver. The receiver is either biased against the insertion of a barrel or barrel extension, such that it must be pried open to allow insertion and its own at rest position (inward bias) provides a compressive force to hold the barrel in place, or, alternatively, it is biased open and a compressive force, such as a bolt, closes the receiver against the barrel or barrel extension.
In a preferred embodiment, the receiver has a front recess to receive a barrel extension, the front recess defined by a channel open longitudinally at its bottom along a longitudinal slit. Included in this preferred embodiment is a load/eject recess open to the front recess and to the bottom of the receiver to allow the insertion and removal of a cartridge from the bottom of the receiver. Also included in this preferred embodiment is at least one clamping hole in the receiver disposed through the longitudinal slit and sized to receive clamping means, such as a bolt. The slit and the load/eject recess together form a single opening along the bottom of the receiver. The front recess is expandable and contractible along the slit whereby the slit is compressible by the clamping means to apply a compressive force on a barrel extension inserted into the front recess.
Also included as a part of the invention is a barrel extension for a firearm barrel. The barrel extension is suited for insertion into the receiver of the present invention. In a preferred embodiment, the barrel extension comprises a metallic tube having an outer surface, and a protrusion extending radially outward from the outer surface of the metallic tube. In a preferred embodiment, the protrusion is a pin.
Still also included in the present invention is a safety mechanism for a firearm to prevent unintentional firing of the firearm. The safety mechanism comprises a bolt having a bolt head disposed at a distal end, a proximal end, and a longitudinal channel disposed in the bolt to house a firing pin. A firing pin is disposed in the longitudinal channel of the bolt, and has a distal end at the bolt head and a proximal end extending out of the longitudinal channel to allow activation of the firing pin by a hammer. A safety bar is disposed at the proximal end of the firing pin wherein rotation of the bolt into a firing position rotates the safety bar into an activation position whereby the firing pin can be activated by a hammer striking the safety bar, and rotation of the bolt into a non-firing position rotates the safety bar out of the activation position whereby a falling hammer cannot strike the safety bar or firing pin.
Included also is firearm comprising a barrel, a barrel extension attached to the barrel, the barrel extension having a protrusion extending radially therefrom, and a receiver. The receiver comprises a front, at least two sides, and a bottom, a front recess to receive a barrel or barrel extension, the front recess defined by a channel in the receiver which is open longitudinally along a longitudinal slit in the receiver, and a load/eject recess open to the front recess and to at least one side or bottom of the receiver. The load/eject recess is sized to allow the insertion and removal of a cartridge from the receiver. The slit and load/eject recess together form a single opening to the receiver whereby the receiver can expand to allow the insertion of a barrel or barrel extension into the front recess. The slit accepts the protrusion to guide the barrel extension into the receiver. A preferred embodiment of the firearm includes the safety mechanism described above.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present invention provides several advantages over known firearm configurations. These advantages are seen with respect to both safety and ease of manufacture. One aspect of the present invention is the receiver. A second aspect relates to a safety mechanism in a novel bolt/firing pin configuration.
Included as a part of receiver 120 is load/eject recess 160, which can be better seen in
The relationship between the receiver's front recess and the barrel or barrel extension (the later of which is shown in
The combination of slit 125 and load/eject port 160 to form a single opening achieves several advantages. One advantage relates to the connection of the barrel or barrel extension to the receiver. In one embodiment, a mechanical leverage can be applied to the sides of the receiver that are separated by slit 125 and which form front recess 122 so as to pry them apart and allow the insertion of a barrel or barrel extension. When the prying force is removed, the sides can return and clamp the barrel or barrel extension into place.
As in the embodiments shown in
Another advantage to the receiver configuration discussed above relates to both ergonomic and safety advantages, particularly when the rifle is to be used for tactical purposes (although the advantages can be enjoyed for both hunting and target shooting scenarios as well). This aspect concerns the fact that the loading of a cartridge, as well as the unloading of a cartridge casing or an unfired cartridge, is preferably done with minimal movement. The receiver configuration described above allows for minimal cartridge movement with minimal hand movement. Importantly, it allows for the ejection, by hand, of empty casings so that, unlike the case with most prior art ejectors, the casing does not fly away from the weapon and operator, and risk sun glare reflection and the position compromise associated therewith. Moreover, with the design noted above, particularly in the embodiment with the slit and port disposed at the bottom of the receiver, the operator can easily position his hand directly beneath the bottom opening to allow the cartridge or empty casing to drop directly into his hand or a positioned container as the bolt is pulled rearward. Still another advantage is seen when an unfired cartridge is removed. Prior art rifles which forcibly eject live rounds risk unintended ignition of those live rounds when they strike the ground. The present receiver configuration reduces such a risk considerably.
Still another advantage with the slit/open port configuration of the present invention relates to the manufacture and durability of the rifle. The receiver of the present invention is not subject to forces from the operating pressures of cartridge firing (except, of course, for recoil related stresses). Because it is the barrel or barrel extension which contains firing chamber pressures upon cartridge detonation, the receiver component of the rifle according to the present invention provides a rigid housing from an alloy or polymer that is relatively immune to temperature, moisture, and stress failures, despite the low overall ultimate tensile strength of these materials compared to traditional steel. Due to the overall lower requirements for alloy or polymer strength, there is no need to harden and temper the alloy or polymer in order to increase its overall strength. In distinction, of course, is the fact that hardening and tempering is a virtual necessity for traditional steel receivers in order to increase the overall strength of those receivers. Thus, the characteristics of appropriate alloys and polymers benefit overall weight, accuracy, reliability, wear reduction, and ease of manufacture. The light weight alloy or polymer used for the receiver of the present invention will allow for a receiver size which is dimensionally larger than the typical steel receivers and stock combinations but which will maintain a near equivalent weight.
As noted above, and as shown in
In addition to slit 125 allowing the necessary movement of front recess 122 to allow insertion of the barrel or barrel extension, the fact that slit 125 extends to load/eject recess 160 to form a single opening along receiver 120 is important to allow this movement. Because of the openings in receiver 120 as discussed, much more “give” is provided for along front recess 122 to allow the insertion of a barrel or barrel extension, as compared to the case where a slit would end at the back (or proximal) end of front recess 122. Moreover, the slit and load/eject port combine to allow easier insertion of a barrel or barrel extension by providing more flexibility within the frame of receiver 120 (as compared to a slit alone).
Another benefit to the mechanical advantage gained by the slit/port combination is seen with respect to the alignment of a barrel or barrel extension during insertion. It should be noted here that although the invention concerns the insertion of a barrel or barrel extension, preferably a barrel extension will be what is inserted into receiver 120. This is especially true in the case of larger caliber chamberings, such as the 0.50 BMG. In such cases, the barrel itself will be connected to a thicker-walled barrel extension which houses the firing chamber. The thicker wall is necessary to withstand the pressures generated during firing of such chamberings. Thus, for purposes of this discussion, the embodiment using a barrel extension (as is shown in
As shown in
Protrusion 750 slides into and along slit 125 of front recess 122 of receiver 120 as barrel extension 700 is inserted into receiver 120 during assembly/manufacture. This alignment is important because, as noted above (and as shown in
Another aspect of the firearm assembly in accordance with the present invention relates further to the bolt itself and its relationship with a hammer.
As can be seen in
The safety mechanism just described can be utilized in a firearm having any degree of bolt rotation between a fully closed position (firing position) and a fully open position. Typically this angle is between 60° and 100°. Preferably, the angle of rotation of the bolt between the fully closed position and fully open position, however, is between 85° and 95°, and most preferably it is 90°. Because of the safety mechanism just described, however, the bolt does not have to rotate to its fully open position for the firearm to be in a non-firing condition. Preferably, the safety bar will move from its activation position (
Although safety bar 860 is shown in the above embodiment as rectangular, a rounded edge embodiment, such as is shown in
Although the invention is illustrated and described herein with reference to specific embodiments, the invention is not intended to be limited to the details shown. Rather, various modifications may be made in the details within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims and without departing from the invention.
Claims
1. A receiver for a firearm, said receiver comprising:
- a front, at least two sides, and a bottom;
- a front recess to receive a barrel or barrel extension, said front recess defined by a channel in said receiver which is open longitudinally along a longitudinal slit in said receiver;
- a load/eject recess open to said front recess and to at least one side or said bottom of said receiver, said load/eject recess sized to allow the insertion and removal of a cartridge from said receiver;
- said slit and said load/eject recess together forming a single opening to said receiver whereby said receiver can expand to allow the insertion of a barrel or barrel extension into said front recess.
2. The receiver of claim 1 wherein said slit and said load/eject recess are open to said bottom of said receiver.
3. The receiver of claim 1 further comprising a clamping hole in said receiver disposed through said longitudinal slit, said clamping hole sized to receive clamping means whereby said slit is compressible by said clamping means to apply a compressive force on a barrel or barrel extension inserted into said front recess.
4. The receiver of claim 2 wherein said clamping means is a bolt.
5. The receiver of claim 1 wherein said front recess is sized to receive a barrel extension.
6. The receiver of claim 2 wherein said receiver has a plurality of clamping holes.
7. The receiver of claim 1 wherein said receiver is comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of aluminum, magnesium, or alloys comprised of aluminum or magnesium.
8. The receiver of claim 1 wherein said receiver is comprised of a polymeric material.
9. A receiver for a firearm, said receiver comprising:
- a front and a bottom;
- a front recess to receive a barrel extension, said front recess defined by a channel open longitudinally at its bottom along a longitudinal slit;
- a load/eject recess open to said front recess and to said bottom of said receiver to allow the insertion and removal of a cartridge from said bottom of said receiver; and
- at least one clamping hole in said receiver, said clamping hole disposed through said longitudinal slit, said clamping hole sized to receive clamping means;
- said slit and said load/eject recess together forming a single opening along said bottom of said receiver, and
- said front recess is expandable and contractible along said slit whereby said slit is compressible by said clamping means to apply a compressive force on a barrel extension inserted into said front recess.
10. The receiver of claim 9 further comprising clamping means.
11. The receiver of claim 9 wherein said receiver has a plurality of clamping holes.
12. The receiver of claim 9 wherein said receiver is comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of aluminum, magnesium, or alloys comprised of aluminum or magnesium.
13. The receiver of claim 9 wherein said receiver is comprised of a polymeric material.
14. A barrel extension for a firearm barrel, said barrel extension comprising:
- a metallic tube having an outer surface; and
- a protrusion extending radially outward from said outer surface of said metallic tube.
15. The barrel extension of claim 14 wherein said protrusion is a pin.
16. A safety mechanism for a firearm to prevent unintentional firing of the firearm, the safety mechanism comprising:
- a bolt having: a bolt head disposed at a distal end, a proximal end, and a longitudinal channel disposed in said bolt to house a firing pin;
- a firing pin disposed in said longitudinal channel of said bolt, said firing pin having a distal end at said bolt head and a proximal end extending out of said longitudinal channel to allow activation of said firing pin by a hammer;
- a safety bar disposed at said proximal end of said firing pin wherein rotation of said bolt into a firing position rotates said safety bar into an activation position whereby said firing pin can be activated by a hammer striking said safety bar, and rotation of said bolt into a non-firing position rotates said safety bar out of said activation position whereby a falling hammer cannot strike said safety bar or firing pin.
17. The safety mechanism of claim 16 wherein said safety bar is rectangular.
18. The safety mechanism of claim 16 wherein said safety bar has at least one curved edge.
19. The safety mechanism of claim 16 wherein the bolt rotation between said activation position and said non-firing position is an angle between 20° and 50° from the bolt's fully closed position.
20. The safety mechanism of claim 18 wherein the bolt rotation between said activation position and said non-firing position is an angle between 10° and 20° from the bolt's fully closed position.
21. A firearm comprising:
- a barrel;
- a barrel extension attached to said barrel, said barrel extension having a protrusion extending radially therefrom; and
- a receiver, said receiver comprising: a front, at least two sides, and a bottom; a front recess to receive a barrel or barrel extension, said front recess defined by a channel in said receiver which is open longitudinally along a longitudinal slit in said receiver; and a load/eject recess open to said front recess and to at least one side or said bottom of said receiver, said load/eject recess sized to allow the insertion and removal of a cartridge from said receiver; said slit and said load/eject recess together forming a single opening to said receiver whereby said receiver can expand to allow the insertion of a barrel or barrel extension into said front recess;
- whereby said slit accepts said protrusion to guide said barrel extension into said receiver.
22. The firearm of claim 21 further comprising a clamping hole in said receiver disposed through said longitudinal slit, said clamping hole sized to receive clamping means whereby said slit is compressible by said clamping means to apply a compressive force on said barrel extension.
23. The firearm of claim 22 wherein said clamping means is a bolt.
24. The firearm of claim 21 further comprising a safety mechanism, said safety mechanism comprising:
- a bolt having: a bolt head disposed at a distal end, a proximal end, and a longitudinal channel disposed in said bolt to house a firing pin;
- a firing pin disposed in said longitudinal channel of said bolt, said firing pin having a distal end at said bolt head and a proximal end extending out of said longitudinal channel to allow activation of said firing pin by a hammer; and
- a safety bar disposed at said proximal end of said firing pin wherein rotation of said bolt into a firing position rotates said safety bar into an activation position whereby said firing pin can be activated by a hammer striking said safety bar, and rotation of said bolt into a non-firing position rotates said safety bar out of said activation position whereby a falling hammer cannot strike said safety bar or firing pin.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 14, 2004
Publication Date: Oct 20, 2005
Inventor: Paul Tashjian (King of Prussia, PA)
Application Number: 10/823,854