SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AN IMPROVED EJECTOR FOR A FIREARM
An improved ejector for a firearm comprising a first contact surface that applies a force on a case of a round of ammunition, and a second contact surface or shelf that applies a force in a direction different than the force applied by the first contact surface to delay the ejection of the case, thus increasing the force couple imparted by first contact surface and an extractor of the firearm, resulting in reliable energy transfer from the bolt assembly of the firearm to the case and improved firearm reliability.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/067,429, filed Aug. 19, 2020, which is incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSUREThe ejection of cartridges or cases is a primary concern in the design of single-shot, semi-automatic, and automatic firearms. The ejection phase in the firearm operating cycle is the point in time which a case or cartridge is cleared from the firearm after either being fired, or being removed, or being removed due to a malfunction, or during maintenance, and prior to loading the next cartridge. The action of ejection is often a source of reliability issues in a firearm design. A failure to eject a case from a firearm will prevent loading the next cartridge into the firing chamber and thus cause a malfunction that prevents operation of the firearm.
Accordingly, an objective of this disclosure is to describe a system and method of improving energy transfer to the case during the ejection phase and improving the reliability of ejection of the case from a firearm.
An improved ejector design to enhance reliability of the action of ejection of a case from a firearm is described in the following paragraphs and in view of the accompanying figures. Among many variations, one possible embodiment comprises a firearm with a barrel, a reciprocating bolt group assembly, an ejector, an extractor, and a receiver.
The firearm including the improved ejector may have a bolt assembly that travels between two positions, a chambered position in which the bolt inserts and holds a cartridge into the firing chamber of the barrel ready for firing, and a fully-retracted position which represents the extreme position of the bolt away from the firing chamber. A bolt assembly or bolt may alternate from the chambered position to the fully-retracted position during firearm operation.
Firearm operation may include the steps of loading a round from an ammunition magazine, which may be accomplished by a bolt assembly transitioning from a fully-retracted position, thereby stripping a cartridge or round of ammunition from a magazine and loading it into the firing chamber, at which point the bolt assembly is in a chambered position. Firing may then occur, or it may not occur, based on operator need or ammunition malfunction. The bolt assembly may then transition to the fully-retracted position, and the cartridge may be extracted from the firing chamber and then ejected from the housing of the firearm through an ejection port. These steps of firearm operation do not have to occur necessarily in this order, and other aspects of firearm operation, such as aiming, loading of a magazine, or disassembly, are not relevant to this disclosure.
In this disclosure the terms forward and rearward may be used, with forward meaning the end or direction of the firearm having the muzzle of the barrel, and rearward meaning the opposite end or direction. During travel from a chambered, forward position to a fully-retracted, rearward position, the bolt assembly may extract a case from the chamber and eject it from the receiver of the firearm under a typical firing cycle. Possible exemplary firearms in which the improved ejector design may be used include the M-16, M-4, AR-15, and AR-10 series of semi-automatic and automatic rifles. Other embodiments may exist for ejection with different firearm designs, for example within a semi-automatic handgun with a reciprocating receiver or slide, and the embodiments disclosed herein should not be considered as limiting to any specific style of firearm.
The action of ejection can be accomplished in several ways. Generally, ejection is affected by two forces acting on the case. One force retains the case rim against the bolt face, which is applied by an apparatus typically called an extractor. A second force acts on the case by pushing it away from the bolt face along the axis of bolt travel, which is applied by an apparatus typically called an ejector. Application of this force couple generates a rotational movement of the case, pivoting it away from the axis of bolt travel out a corresponding ejection port in the firearm receiver or housing. Other ways in which the second force may act on the case include pushing the case perpendicularly from the axis of bolt travel or at some other angle from the axis of bolt travel. Other ways of effecting ejection include use of two ejectors that act in conjunction. However, in all these ways the ejectors applying the second force to the case in a single direction at any given time.
Extractors in firearms may be stationary or articulating, and they may be attached to a bolt group or bolt assembly, or some other part of the firearm like a receiver, slide, or frame. If the extractor is attached to the bolt group or bolt assembly, they may start imparting force on the case immediately after the case leaves the chamber. If attached to some component like the frame or receiver, they act on the case when the bolt or bolt group passes the ejector. Regardless of style or design, extractors impart a single force on the case as the bolt travels rearward.
Efficient energy transfer to the case is critical to the action of ejection. If bolt velocity is too low, or if the ejector is articulating and is damaged or mis-aligned, ejection reliability can suffer as insufficient force will be applied to the case and it will not have sufficient energy to clear the receiver or firearm housing during ejection. Another possible cause for insufficient energy transfer is the case falling away or losing contact with the extractor too early in the ejection phase.
One way to improve efficient energy transfer to the case is to add an additional force that acts on the case during the ejection phase of the firing cycle. One possible additional force as described herein retains the case against the extractor by using another, secondary surface, contact point, or shelf on the ejector. The disclosed secondary surface physically contacts or engages the rim of the case and applies a force roughly perpendicular to the centerline of the case. The secondary surface may physically contact or engage the side wall of the case, or it may physically contact or engage both. Thus, as the bolt travels rearward along its axis of travel, and as the case slips away from the extractor, the case is retained in place by the secondary surface. The length of time the case is being acted upon by the two forces imparted by the ejector and extractor is increased which thereby enhances the energy transfer to the case.
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Bolt assembly 602 may have an extractor 603 that may have a claw or hook that extends past bolt face 601. The claw or hook of extractor 603 may be positioned such that it sits in the groove of a case that defines the case rim. In this way the case is retained between the bolt face 601 and the claw or hook of extractor 603. The extractor 603 may also be stationary or articulating. If articulating it may press or hold the case against bolt face 601 using spring pressure, a hinge, or some other mechanical means.
Articulating ejector 605 may have a second contact surface, or shelf 607. Shelf 607 may be in a plane perpendicular to first contact surface 606, but other angles are possible. At a point in time during rearward travel of bolt assembly 602, ejector 605 articulates to begin ejection of the case. The force imparted by the ejector 605, via the first contact surface 606 acting on the case, counters the force applied by extractor 603 on the case. Shelf 607 retains case, increasing the time the force couple is imposed on case that is created by first contact surface 606 counteracting extractor 603. Thus, more energy is imparted to the case and ejection is improved than if shelf 607 was not present.
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At approximately the same point in time when ejector 705 transitions from retracted to extended position and first contact surface 706 imparts force on case head 7012, shelf 707 engages with the wall or side of the case rim of case 7011. Thus, second contact surface 707 holds case head 7012 against extractor 703 and prevents the case 7011 from moving away from extractor 703. At approximately this point in time, the force imparted by ejector 705, via the first contact surface 706 acting on case head 7012, counteracts the force of applied by extractor 703 on case 7011. Shelf 707 retains case 7011 in place, increasing the time the force couple is imposed on case that is created by first contact surface 706 counteracting extractor 703. Thus, more energy is imparted to the case 7011 and ejection is improved than if shelf 707 was not present.
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Bolt assembly 802 may have an extractor 803 that may have a claw or hook that extends past the bolt face of bolt assembly 802. The claw or hook of extractor 803 may be positioned such that it sits in the groove of a case that defines a case rim of a case 8011. In this way case 8011 is retained between the bolt face of bolt assembly 802 and the claw or hook of extractor 803. Extractor 803 may also be stationary or articulating. If articulating it may press or hold the case using spring pressure, a hinge, or some other mechanical means.
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As discussed above and further emphasized here, the disclosed Figures are merely exemplary and should not unduly limit the scope of the claims. One of ordinary skill in the art would recognize many variations, alternatives, and modifications. Other embodiments of an improved ejector for a firearm are possible. For example, in semi-automatic handguns that use a reciprocating upper receiver or slide, an improved ejector may include a second contact surface along with a first contact surface. During rearward travel of the slide following firing, an extractor may retain the case head of the case and pull it rearward until the case head comes into contact with a first contact surface of an improved ejector. At approximately the same moment in time, a second contact surface of the ejector engages with the case rim, thereby holding it in physical contact with the extractor for a longer amount of time until the case rotates out from under the extractor.
While this specification contains many specific implementation details, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of any invention or of what may be claimed, but rather as descriptions of features that may be specific to particular embodiments of particular inventions. Certain features that are described in this specification in the context of separate embodiments can also be implemented in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features that are described in the context of a single embodiment can also be implemented in multiple embodiments separately or in any suitable sub-combination. Moreover, although features may be described herein as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, one or more features from a claimed combination can in some cases be excised from the combination, and the claimed combination may be directed to a sub-combination or variation of a sub-combination.
Similarly, while operations are depicted in the drawings or including in the description herein may be listed in a particular order, this should not be understood as requiring that such operations be performed in the particular order shown or in sequential order, or that all operations be required to be performed, to achieve desirable results. In certain circumstances, multitasking and parallel processes may be advantageous.
Although illustrative embodiments have been shown and described, a wide range of modification, change and substitution is contemplated in the foregoing disclosure and in some instances, some features of the embodiments may be employed without a corresponding use of other features. One of ordinary skill in the art would recognize many variations, alternatives, and modifications. Thus, the scope of any invention should be limited only by the following claims, and it is appropriate that the claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the exemplary embodiments disclosed herein.
Claims
1. An ejector for a firearm comprising:
- a first contact surface capable of engaging a case head of a cartridge;
- a second contact surface capable of engaging a case rim or side wall of the cartridge; and
- wherein the cartridge is in physical contact with both the first contact surface and the second contact surface at a point in time during firearm operation.
2. The ejector of claim 1, wherein the ejector is rigidly connected to a receiver of the firearm.
3. The ejector of claim 1, wherein the ejector is attached to a bolt assembly of the firearm.
4. The ejector of claim 1, wherein the ejector is operable between a retracted position and an extended position.
5. The ejector of claim 4, further comprising a spring to assist the ejector from transitioning from the retracted position to the extended position.
6. The ejector of claim 4, further comprising a mechanical cam to assist the ejector from transitioning from the retracted position to the extended position.
7. The ejector of claim 1, wherein the first contact surface and the second contact surface are oriented in perpendicular planes in relation to one another.
8. The ejector of claim 1, wherein the second contact surface is shaped to receive the case rim or side wall of the cartridge.
9. The ejector of claim 1, wherein the second contact surface is capable of engaging the case rim and side wall of the cartridge.
10. An ejector for a rifle comprising:
- a first contact surface capable of contacting a case head of a cartridge;
- a second contact surface capable of contacting a case rim or side wall of the cartridge; and
- wherein the cartridge is in physical contact with both the first contact surface and the second contact surface at a point in time during cycling of a bolt assembly of the rifle.
11. The ejector of claim 10, wherein the ejector is rigidly mounted to a lower receiver of the rifle.
12. The ejector of claim 10, wherein the ejector is attached to the bolt assembly of the rifle.
13. The ejector of claim 10, wherein the ejector is capable of actuating between a retracted position and an extended position.
14. The ejector of claim 10, wherein the first contact surface and the second contact surface are oriented in geometric planes perpendicular to one another.
15. The ejector of claim 10, wherein the second contact surface is shaped to receive the case rim or side wall of the cartridge.
16. The ejector of claim 10, wherein the second contact surface is capable of contacting the case rim and side wall of the cartridge.
17. An ejector for a rifle comprising:
- a first contact surface operable to engage a case head of a cartridge;
- a second contact surface operable to engage a case rim or side wall of the cartridge;
- wherein the cartridge is in physical contact with both the first contact surface and the second contact surface at a point in time when a bolt assembly of the rifle moves from a forward position to a rearward position;
- wherein the ejector is rotatably connected to a receiver of the rifle;
- wherein the ejector actuates between a retracted position and an extended position;
- wherein the ejector is in the retracted position when the bolt assembly is in the forward position and the ejector is in the extended position when the bolt assembly is in the rearward position; and
- wherein the ejector is linked to a spring under tension to assist the ejector from rotating from the retracted position to the extended position.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 19, 2021
Publication Date: Feb 24, 2022
Inventor: Matthew GANGL (Hugo, MN)
Application Number: 17/406,844