FIREARM GAS BLOCK

Abstract

A gas block for a firearm and a gas block system for a firearm. The gas block includes an upper tube connected to a lower tube. The upper tube includes a first passageway and an aperture through the upper tube opposite the lower tube. The lower tube includes a second passageway configured to receive a barrel of a firearm. A central passageway connects the first passageway to the second passageway. A gas nipple having a central bore is threaded into the central passageway. The gas nipple includes an engagement feature to engage a tool for the rotation of the gas nipple within the central passageway. The tool may be inserted through the aperture in the upper tube. The gas nipple may include a taper at the second end. The first passageway is configured to receive a gas tube, or a piston cup, and the second passageway receives a firearm barrel.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/037,346 entitled “FIREARM GAS BLOCK” filed on Jun. 10, 2020, which is incorporated herein in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The embodiments described herein relate to a gas block for a firearm.

BACKGROUND

Description of the Related Art

A gas block may be connected to the barrel of a firearm by different mechanism. It is important that the gas block does not rotate with respect to the barrel after it is connected. Otherwise, rotation of the gas block may damage a gas tube connected between the gas block and the receiver of the firearm. A gas block may be pinned to the barrel of a firearm. Pinned connections do not allow the connection between the gas block and the firearm to be adjusted. Further, an exterior groove may need to be added to the bottom of the barrel in order to enable the gas block to be pinned to the barrel. Differences in tolerances to such grooves may lead to variations in the connection between gas blocks and barrels.

Another mechanism to connect a gas block to a barrel of a firearm is to use one, or two, set screws that engage the bottom of the gas block to the barrel. The set screws engage dimples formed on the bottom of the barrel. Some barrels are manufactured with a single dimple opposite the gas port formed in the barrel. However, many gas blocks may use two set screws requiring a second dimple to be formed in the barrel. Variations in the size, shape, and/or depth in the formation of a second dimple on the barrel may lead to a less than desired connection between the gas block and the barrel. Additionally, dimple sizes, depths, and/or shapes vary between barrel manufactures, which may lead to a less than desired connection between the gas blocks and the barrel. Other drawbacks and disadvantages of present suppressor systems also exist.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure is directed to a gas block for a firearm that addresses some of the problems and disadvantages discussed above.

One embodiment is a gas block for a firearm. The gas block includes an upper tube having a first passageway and an aperture through the upper tube to the first passageway. The gas block includes a lower tube having a second passageway, the lower tube being connected to the upper tube, wherein the aperture through the upper tube is opposite the lower tube and wherein the second passageway is configured to receive a barrel of a firearm. The gas block includes a central passageway that connects the first passageway to the second passageway. The gas block includes a gas nipple positioned in the central passageway, the gas nipple having a first end, a second end, exterior threads, a central bore that extends from the first end to the second end, and an engagement feature on the first end. The engagement feature is configured to engage a tool for the rotation of the gas nipple within the central passageway. The gas nipple may include a taper at the second end. The first passageway may be configured to receive a gas tube or a piston cup.

One embodiment is a gas block system for a firearm. The system includes an upper tube having a first passageway and a first aperture through the upper tube to the first passageway. The system includes a lower tube having a second passageway, the lower tube being connected to the upper tube. The system includes a central passageway that connects the first passageway to the second passageway. The system includes a gas nipple positioned in the central passageway, the gas nipple having a first end, a second end, exterior threads, a central bore that extends from the first end to the second end, and an engagement feature on the first end. The system includes a gas tube having a first end and a second end, the first end of the gas tube being open to an interior and the second end of the gas tube being close, the gas tube including a second aperture through the gas tube. The gas tube is positioned within the first passageway and the second aperture is aligned with the central bore of the gas nipple.

The engagement feature may be configured to engage a tool for the rotation of the gas nipple within the central passageway. The system may include a firearm barrel positioned within the second passageway, the firearm barrel having a projectile path and a third aperture through the firearm barrel in communication with the projectile path. The third aperture is aligned with the central bore of the gas nipple and the second aperture to provide communication between the projectile path and the interior of the gas tube. The exterior threads of the gas nipple may connect the gas block to the firearm barrel. The gas nipple includes a taper at the second end. The taper at the second end of the gas nipple may mate with a corresponding structure on the firearm barrel. A seal may be created between the taper and the corresponding structure of the firearm barrel. The central bore of the gas nipple may have a larger diameter than the third aperture through the firearm barrel. The extension of the gas nipple into the third aperture through the firearm barrel prevents the rotation of the gas block with respect to the firearm barrel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross-section view of an embodiment of a gas block connected to a firearm barrel with a tube connected to the gas block.

FIG. 2 is a close-up cross-section view of the gas block, the tube, and a portion of the firearm barrel shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows a top view of the gas block, the tube, and the firearm barrel of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 shows a side view of the gas block, the tube, and the firearm barrel of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of a gas block connected to a firearm barrel.

FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of a gas block connected to a firearm barrel.

FIG. 7 is a cross-section view of an embodiment of a gas block connected to a firearm barrel.

FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a gas block.

FIG. 9 shows an end view of the gas block of FIG. 8

FIG. 10 shows a cross-section view along line 10 of the gas block of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a gas nipple.

FIG. 12 shows a top view of the gas nipple of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 shows a side view of the gas nipple of FIG. 11.

FIG. 14 shows a cross-section view along line 14 of the gas nipple of FIG. 13.

While the disclosure is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail herein. However, it should be understood that the disclosure is not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1-4 show a gas block system for a firearm 400 that includes a gas block 100 connected to both a gas tube 200 and a firearm barrel 300. The gas block 100 includes an upper tube 110 connected to a lower tube 120. The upper tube 110 includes a first passageway 111 configured to receive a gas tube 200, or piston cup, as would be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure. The upper tube 110 includes a first aperture 112 through the top of the upper tube 110. During installation of the gas block 100 on the barrel 300, the first aperture 112 enables a tool to rotate the gas nipple 130 as discussed herein. The gas nipple 130 is threaded into the gas block 100 via exterior threads 134. The gas nipple 130 prevents rotation of the gas block 100 with respect to the barrel 300 and also provides communication from the projectile path 301 to the interior 203 of a gas tube 200 via a second aperture 204 in the gas tube 200 and a third aperture 302 in the barrel 300 as discussed herein.

The gas tube 200 includes an open first end 201 and a closed second end 202. When the gas is inserted into the gas block 200, the gas tube 200 provides a path for gasses to exit the barrel 300 via the third aperture 302, the central bore 135 of the gas nipple 130, and the second aperture 204 in the gas tube 200. The insertion of the gas tube 200 into the first passageway 111 of the upper tube 110 blocks the first aperture 112 of the upper tube 110. The interior 203 of the gas tube 200 is then connected to the receiver of the firearm via tubing as would be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure.

The firearm barrel 300 includes a projectile path 301 and a third aperture 302 that enables gas from the discharge of the firearm to escape into the gas block 100 and then to the receiver of the firearm via the gas tube 200. The barrel 300 is received into the second passageway 121 of the lower tube 120 of the gas block 100.

FIGS. 5-7 show the gas block 100 connected to a barrel 300 of a firearm. The gas tube 200 is not shown for clarity. The gas nipple 130 is threaded into the gas block 100 and a portion of the gas nipple 130 extends into the third aperture 302 of the barrel, which prevents the rotation of the gas block 100 with respect to the barrel 300. Prior to insertion of the gas tube 200, a tool may be inserted through the first aperture 112 in the upper tube 110 to rotate the gas nipple 130 into a central opening 101 between the upper tube 110 and the lower tube 120 in the gas block 100.

FIGS. 8-10 show an embodiment of a gas block 100. The gas block 100 includes an upper tube 110 connected to a lower tube 120. The upper tube 110 includes a first passageway 111 that is configured to receive a gas tube 200 or piston cup. The lower tube 120 includes a second passageway 120 configured to receive the barrel 300 of a firearm. The gas block 100 includes a first aperture 112 that enables a tool to be inserted into the gas block 100. The gas block 100 includes a central passageway 101 between the first passageway 111 and the second passageway 121. As discussed herein, the gas nipple 130 is threaded into the central passageway 101. The gas nipple 130 both secures the gas block 100 to the barrel 300 and provides a pathway for gas to travel from the projectile path 301 of the barrel to a gas tube 200 inserted into the first passageway 111 of the upper tube 110.

FIGS. 11-14 shows an embodiment of a gas nipple 130. The gas nipple 130 has a first end 131 and a second end 132. The first end 131 includes an engagement feature 133 that enables a tool to engage the gas nipple 130 to rotate it within the central passageway 101 of the gas block 100. The gas nipple 130 includes exterior threads 134 that enable the gas nipple 130 to be threaded into the gas block 100. The gas nipple 130 includes a central bore 135 that allows passage of gas through the gas nipple 130. The central bore 135 may have a diameter that is larger than the diameter of the third aperture 302 through the firearm barrel 300. The second end 132 of the gas nipple 130 includes a taper 132. The taper 132 is configured to mate with a corresponding structure within the third aperture 302 in the barrel 300 to create a seal between the gas nipple 130 and the barrel 300. The seal is to prevent gas from escaping around the gas nipple 130 rather than passing through the central bore 135.

Although this invention has been described in terms of certain preferred embodiments, other embodiments that are apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, including embodiments that do not provide all of the features and advantages set forth herein, are also within the scope of this invention. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is defined only by reference to the appended claims and equivalents thereof

Claims

1. A gas block for a firearm, the gas block comprising:

an upper tube having a first passageway and an aperture through the upper tube to the first passageway;

a lower tube having a second passageway, the lower tube being connected to the upper tube, wherein the aperture through the upper tube is opposite the lower tube and wherein the second passageway is configured to receive a barrel of a firearm;

a central passageway that connects the first passageway to the second passageway; and

a gas nipple positioned in the central passageway, the gas nipple having a first end, a second end, exterior threads, a central bore that extends from the first end to the second end, and an engagement feature on the first end, wherein the engagement feature is configured to engage a tool for the rotation of the gas nipple within the central passageway.

2. The gas block of claim 1, wherein the gas nipple includes a taper at the second end.

3. The gas block of claim 1, wherein the first passageway is configured to receive a gas tube or a piston cup.

4. A gas block system for a firearm, the gas block system comprising:

an upper tube having a first passageway and a first aperture through the upper tube to the first passageway;

a lower tube having a second passageway, the lower tube being connected to the upper tube;

a central passageway that connects the first passageway to the second passageway;

a gas nipple positioned in the central passageway, the gas nipple having a first end, a second end, exterior threads, a central bore that extends from the first end to the second end, and an engagement feature on the first end;

a gas tube having a first end and a second end, the first end of the gas tube being open to an interior and the second end of the gas tube being close, the gas tube including a second aperture through the gas tube;

wherein the gas tube is positioned within the first passageway; and

wherein the second aperture is aligned with the central bore of the gas nipple.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the engagement feature is configured to engage a tool for the rotation of the gas nipple within the central passageway.

6. The system of claim 5, further comprising a firearm barrel positioned within the second passageway, the firearm barrel comprising a projectile path and a third aperture through the firearm barrel in communication with the projectile path, wherein the third aperture is aligned with the central bore of the gas nipple and the second aperture to provide communication between the projectile path and the interior of the gas tube.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the exterior threads of the gas nipple are threaded into the gas block to the firearm barrel.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the gas nipple includes a taper at the second end

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the taper at the second end of the gas nipple mates with a corresponding structure on the firearm barrel.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein a seal is created between the taper and the corresponding structure on the firearm barrel.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the central bore of the gas nipple has a larger diameter than the third aperture through the firearm barrel.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein a portion of the gas nipple extends into the third aperture through the firearm barrel to prevent the rotation of the upper tube and the lower tube with respect to the firearm barrel.