Abstract: A gun barrel that can be used to fire projectiles. The gun barrel may be used in satellite-launching operations, in artillery operations, or in fire-fighting operations. The gun barrel has an outer support layer, an inner support layer lining the bore of the gun barrel and a compressible material disposed between the outer support layer and inner support layer. The support layers may be steel, and the compressible material may be concrete. In one embodiment, the breech portion is made of a metal, for example, steel, and the remainder of the gun barrel is made of an inner support layer an outer support layer and a layer of compressible material therebetween. The gun barrel of this invention is less expensive to make and lighter than a similarly-sized gun barrel made of steel, while being sufficiently strong to launch large projectiles.

Abstract: A firearm barrel includes an elongate metal insert member and a rigid sleeve surrounding the insert member along a majority of the length of the insert member. A casing is formed around at least a portion of the sleeve, preferably by injection molding. Breech and muzzle portions of the barrel may be fitted against the sleeve and are preferably tightly connected by the casing.

Abstract: Different colors are prepared for inner shapes that define different design ballistic patterns. Wear resistant coatings of the different colors are applied over outer surfaces of tube bodies having the design ballistic patterns corresponding to the colors of the wear resistant coatings to allow the design ballistic patterns to be identified by the colors of the wear resistant coatings.

Abstract: Gas-operated automatic and semi-automatic guns are improved by providing their barrels with unique exterior surface configurations to reduce the weight of their barrels while retaining the barrels' original stiffness and to cause the barrels to dissipate heat faster.

Abstract: To make a composite gun barrel, an inner barrel of a hard refractory material is formed and a composite jacket formed over it to increase the stiffness and strength while not adding excessive weight. The tows in the external jacket are varied in pitch along the barrel to decrease the amplitude of vibrations of a muzzle during firing. High thermal conductivity material is added to the resin to increase thermal conductivity. In the preferred embodiment, the thermally conductive material is chopped pitch-based carbon fibers and these are randomly oriented. A gas port is added and shielded from the composite material and a metal muzzle piece protects the composite from hot gases.

Abstract: To make a composite gun barrel, an inner barrel of a hard refractory material is formed and a composite jacket formed over it to increase the stiffness and strength while not adding excessive weight. The tows in the external jacket are varied in pitch along the barrel to decrease the amplitude of vibrations of a muzzle during firing. High thermal conductivity material is added to the resin to increase thermal conductivity. In the preferred embodiment, the thermally conductive material is chopped pitch-based carbon fibers and these are randomly oriented. A gas port is added and shielded from the composite material and a metal muzzle piece protects the composite from hot gases.

Abstract: This invention discloses a gun barrel that can be used to fire large projectiles beyond the lower atmosphere, and in particular, that can be used to assist with the launching of satellites into orbit. The gun barrel has an outer support layer, an inner support layer lining the bore of the gun barrel and a compressible material disposed between the outer support layer and inner support layer. The support layers are preferably steel, and the compressible material is preferably concrete. In one embodiment, the breech portion is made of a metal such as steel, and the remainder of the gun barrel is made of an inner support layer an outer support layer and a layer of compressible material therebetween. The gun barrel of this invention is less expensive to make and lighter than a similarly-sized gun barrel made of steel, while being sufficiently strong to launch large projectiles.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a nodular nickel boron coating having lubricating properties. Nodular and columnar boron coatings made by the above methods disclosed in the above patents have a low coefficient of friction. The above process results in a columnar structure with nodules in the surface layer. Nodules can be produced in other nickel coatings by blasting the surface with hard particles to form the nodules. Using blasting to form the nodules produces an inferior coating in contrast to the electroless nickel boron coatings having a columnar structure.

Abstract: A firearm barrel includes an elongate metal insert member and a rigid sleeve surrounding the insert member along a majority of the length of the insert member. A casing is formed around at least a portion of the sleeve, preferably by injection molding. Breech and muzzle portions of the barrel may be fitted against the sleeve and are preferably tightly connected by the casing.

Abstract: The invention is directed to nodular nickel boran coating having lubricating properties. Nodular and columnar boron coatings made by the above methods disclosed in the above patents have a low coefficient of friction. The above process results in a columnar structure with nodules in the surface layer. Nodules can be produced in other nickel coatings by blasting the surface with hard particles to form the nodules. Using blasting to form the nodules produces an inferior coating in contrast to the electroless nickel boron coatings having a columnar structure.

Abstract: Firearms having scandium containing aluminum alloy components having alloying elements including light weight metals, such as magnesium, chromium, copper and zinc, heavier metals, such as zirconium, and other rare earth metals. The components have yield strengths of 82 to 100 KSI, tensile strengths of 88 to 106 KSI, 12 to 19% elongation's, and 7 to 10% reduction areas, and a method for heat treating the scandium containing aluminum alloy. The alloy is composed of 0.05% to 0.15% scandium, 7.5% to 8.3% zinc, 1.6% to 2.2% magnesium, 1.6% to 2.0% copper, 0.02% to 0.04% chromium, 0.05% to 0.15% zirconium, and 87 to 90% aluminum. A method for making the components involves exposure to solution heat treatment of 875° F. for an hours or two, followed by water quench, natural aging at ambient temperature for 24 to 72 hours, artificial aging at 250° F. for 24 hours, and allowed to air cool.

Abstract: A weapon barrel includes a hard chromium layer provided on an inner barrel surface. The hard chromium layer contains at least 500 fissures/cm in a cross-sectional plane.

Abstract: A gun barrel for a gun has an elongated tube with an axial bore extending completely through the tube from the breech end to the muzzle end. The tube and the contact surface in the axial bore, which contains propellant gasses behind the projectile and engages the projectile while guiding it toward the target, are made of Nitinol having a transition temperature lower than the lowest ambient temperature at which a gun with the barrel is designed to be operated, or of a Nitinol formulation consisting essentially of 60% nickel and 40% titanium. A first sleeve may be mechanically coupled to the barrel tube by shape memory contraction thereon to prestress the barrel tube in compression.

Abstract: A method for lining a gun barrel with a material selected to reduce the rate of erosion and corrosion from the rounds of ammunition fired through it includes the steps of forming a rod of the lining material, hammer -forging a barrel blank to the rod, and then drilling out a bore in the rod. The liner extends from the muzzle end of the barrel almost to the chamber end but stops short to abut a step formed in the barrel just forward of the chamber. The chamber is machined, reamed, and chrome-plated. Preferably measures are taken, such as by applying pressure to the rod during forging, to assure that the rod is placed in full engagement with the step and held in full engagement with the step in order to avoid the formation of a gap between the liner and the step.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for ballistic conditioning firearm projectiles, firearms, and firearm components such as bores of barrels, by applying to such items a conditioning composition selected from the group consisting of hexagonal boron nitride, graphite, tungsten disulfide, antimony trioxide, talc, mica, and mixtures thereof, suspended in a carrier comprising a volatile solvent, and a binder selected from the group consisting of cellulosic-, alkyd- and acrylic-resins.

Abstract: A firearm barrel includes an elongate metal insert member and a rigid sleeve surrounding the insert member along a majority of the length of the insert member. A casing is formed around at least a portion of the sleeve, preferably by injection molding. Breech and muzzle portions of the barrel may be fitted against the sleeve and are preferably tightly connected by the casing.

Abstract: Firearms having scandium containing aluminum alloy components having alloying elements including light weight metals, such as magnesium, chromium, copper and zinc, heavier metals, such as zirconium, and other rare earth metals. The components have yield strengths of 82 to 100 KSI, tensile strengths of 88 to 106 KSI, 12 to 19% elongation's, and 7 to 10% reduction areas, and a method for heat treating the scandium containing aluminum alloy. The alloy is composed of 0.05% to 0.15% scandium, 7.5% to 8.3% zinc, 1.6% to 2.2% magnesium, 1.6% to 2.0% copper, 0.02% to 0.04% chromium, 0.05% to 0.15% zirconium, and 87 to 90% aluminum. A method for making the components involves exposure to solution heat treatment of 875° F. for an hours or two, followed by water quench, natural aging at ambient temperature for 24 to 72 hours, artificial aging at 250° F. for 24 hours, and allowed to air cool.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for ballistic conditioning firearm projectiles, firearms, and firearm components such as bores of barrels, by applying to such items a conditioning composition selected from the group consisting of hexagonal boron nitride, graphite, tungsten disulfide, antimony trioxide, talc, mica, and mixtures thereof, suspended in a carrier comprising a volatile solvent, and a binder selected from the group consisting of cellulosic-, alkyd- and acrylic-resins.

Abstract: A method of coating an inner surface of a weapon barrel includes the following steps: introducing a plasma burner into the weapon barrel; producing a plasma flame by the plasma burner; directing the plasma flame against the inner barrel surface to cause impingement thereon; introducing a coating material in powder, wire or ribbon form into the plasma flame for melting the coating material to form a molten liquid and for depositing the molten liquid by the plasma flame on the inner barrel surface; and moving the plasma burner inside the weapon barrel axially thereof and relative thereto while performing the depositing step for obtaining a surface coating on the inner barrel surface.

Abstract: A firearm barrel has components made of different materials. The barrel includes an elongate metal insert member. A rigid sleeve surrounds the insert member along a majority of the length of the insert member. A casing is located around at least a portion of the sleeve.

Abstract: A method of providing an inner surface of a weapon barrel with a hard chromium layer includes the steps of forming the hard chromium layer on the inner surface by galvanic separation; and thereafter heating the hard chromium layer beyond the re-crystallization temperature thereof for obtaining, upon conclusion of the heating step, a uniform re-crystallization of the hard chromium layer in its entirety.

Abstract: A composite tube for a gun barrel consists of: an inner tubular metal liner defining a longitudinal bore axis; a resin matrix material surrounding the liner, the resin matrix material containing a plurality of elongate carbon fibers, the carbon fibers being aligned parallel with the longitudinal bore axis of the liner and under compression along the longitudinal bore axis; a muzzle piece attached to the muzzle end of the barrel; and a breech piece attached to the breech end of the barrel, so that any vibrations transmitted along the longitudinal bore axis of the liner are absorbed by the resin matrix material and so that any vibrations reaching the muzzle piece and breech piece are reflected back into the resin matrix material and thus absorbed.

Abstract: A weapon barrel includes a hard chromium layer provided on an inner barrel surface. The hard chromium layer contains at least 500 fissures/cm in a cross-sectional plane.

Abstract: A low impulse firing attachment and companion ammunition for combination gas and recoil operated automatic weapons is comprised of a barrel insert and piston that provide the mechanism for containing the expanding propellant gases produced on firing. Such mechanism provides the required gas pressure at the gas port of the weapon to power the gas system. The barrel insert also allows the use of a sub-caliber piston for the propellant gases to act against. The gas pressure forces the barrel and piston apart, accelerating the recoiling mass rearward to provide recoil operation. The sub-caliber piston allows the use of the relatively high gas port pressure while limiting the peak force transmitted through the adapter. The blank and adapter provide the appropriate gas pressure at the gas port to power the gas system. The adapter also acts as a piston inside the barrel so that the gas pressure forces the barrel rearward, which provides the recoil operation.

Abstract: A weapon barrel includes a hard chromium layer provided on an inner barrel surface. The hard chromium layer contains at least 500 fissures/cm in a cross-sectional plane.

Abstract: A method of coating an inner face of a weapon barrel with a coating material includes the following steps: introducing the coating material as a component in sheet or foil form into the weapon barrel; positioning the component in the weapon barrel such that a first face of the component is oriented toward the inner face of the barrel and a second face of the component is oriented away from the inner face of the barrel; maintaining an annular clearance between the inner face of the barrel and the component; providing the second face of the component with an explosive; and detonating the explosive for hurling the coating material of the component against the inner face of the barrel for effecting a cold welding between the coating material and the inner face of the barrel.

Abstract: A composite tube for a gun barrel consists of: an inner tubular metal liner defining a longitudinal bore axis; a resin matrix material surrounding the liner, the resin matrix material containing a plurality of elongate carbon fibers, the carbon fibers being aligned parallel with the longitudinal bore axis of the liner and under compression along the longitudinal bore axis; a muzzle piece attached to the muzzle end of the barrel; and a breech piece attached to the breech end of the barrel, so that any vibrations transmitted along the longitudinal bore axis of the liner are absorbed by the resin matrix material and so that any vibrations reaching the muzzle piece and breech piece are reflected back into the resin matrix material and thus absorbed.

Abstract: Firearms having scandium containing aluminum alloy components having alloying elements including light weight metals, such as magnesium, chromium, copper and zinc, heavier metals, such as zirconium, and other rare earth metals. The components have yield strengths of 82 to 100 KSI, tensile strengths of 88 to 106 KSI, 12 to 19% elongation's, and 7 to 10% reduction areas, and a method for heat treating the scandium containing aluminum alloy. The alloy is composed of 0.05% to 0.15% scandium, 7.5% to 8.3% zinc, 1.6% to 2.2% magnesium, 1.6% to 2.0% copper, 0.02% to 0.04% chromium, 0.05% to 0.15% zirconium, and 87 to 90% aluminum. A method for making the components involves exposure to solution heat treatment of 875° F. for an hours or two, followed by water quench, natural aging at ambient temperature for 24 to 72 hours, artificial aging at 250° F. for 24 hours, and allowed to air cool.

Abstract: A weapon barrel includes a hard chromium layer provided on an inner barrel surface. The hard chromium layer contains at least 500 fissures/cm in a cross-sectional plane.

Abstract: A composite tube for a gun barrel consists of: an inner tubular metal liner defining a longitudinal bore axis; a resin matrix material surrounding the liner, the resin matrix material containing a plurality of elongate carbon fibers, the carbon fibers being aligned parallel with the longitudinal bore axis of the liner and under compression along the longitudinal bore axis; a muzzle piece attached to the muzzle end of the barrel; and a breech piece attached to the breech end of the barrel, so that any vibrations transmitted along the longitudinal bore axis of the liner are absorbed by the resin matrix material and so that any vibrations reaching the muzzle piece and breech piece are reflected back into the resin matrix material and thus absorbed.

Abstract: A composite barrel for a firearm comprising a substantially metallic liner and fiber reinforced resin, in which the fiber reinforced resin is under compression.

Abstract: A method of coating an inner face of a metal tube with an electrically conducting coating material includes the steps of positioning a wire, made of the coating material, generally axially in an interior of the tube, along the inner face thereof; and passing an electric current pulse of sufficient intensity through the wire to cause an explosive vaporization thereof, whereby particles of the vaporized material impinge on the inner face of the metal tube and form a layer thereon.