Combustion chamber for a muzzleloading firearm
An improved muzzleloading firearm provided with a combustion chamber of a diameter greater than its bore. The larger diameter of the combustion chamber provides for more efficient burning of the powder. The improved combustion chamber is used in association with an improved breech plug and ignition stem which simultaneously prevents a projectile from entering the combustion chamber, and ignites the powder in the combustion chamber from the muzzle end of the powder charge, producing a more efficient burn.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to an improved combustion chamber for muzzleloading firearms and, more particularly, to a combustion chamber of increased diameter and means for preventing a projectile from entering the combustion chamber.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It is known in the art to provide centerfire rifle cartridges with short, fat cases. Concentrating the propellant in this manner produces a more efficient burn and transfers more power to the bullet. One drawback associated with such systems is that they ignite the propellant from the breech end of the propellant charge. By igniting the breech end of the propellant charge, the gases initially expanding near the breech end must dissipate some of their power in an effort to move unburned propellant toward the muzzle. Although it would be more efficient to ignite the propellant charge from the muzzle end of the charge, present technology has not provided a mechanism for such an ignition system.
While such short, fat propellant charges, namely charges with a diameter greater than the bullet or projectile are desirable, it has not heretofore been known to utilize this efficiency in muzzleloading firearms. Because muzzleloading firearms do not utilize a case, the bullet or projectile cannot be “crimped” or otherwise locked against undesired movement into the larger combustion chamber which holds the propellant. If the bullet were not so secured, in a muzzleloading situation the bullet may inadvertently move into the combustion chamber. If the combustion chamber were of a greater diameter than the bore, the bullet may become inadvertently wedged against the transition between the combustion chamber and the bore of the firearm. If the propellant charge were to ignite and the bullet were to become wedged against movement down the bore, a potentially hazardous situation could result in a bulge and destruction of the barrel, or, more seriously, to a rupture of the barrel, causing serious injury and possibly death.
Accordingly, while it would be desirable to provide a muzzleloading firearm with the efficiencies associated with a shorter, fatter charge, it has not heretofore been known in the art to provide a mechanism for utilizing such an efficient charge in muzzleloading firearms, while avoiding the dangers associated with potential barrel failure. Additionally, it would be desirable to provide a mechanism for igniting a propellant charge from the muzzle end of the charge as opposed to the breech end of the charge, to obtain added efficiencies associated with not having to propel unburned propellant toward the muzzle.
The difficulties encountered in the prior art discussed hereinabove are substantially eliminated by the present invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn an advantage provided by this invention, a firearm with an improved combustion chamber is provided, which is of a low cost manufacture.
Advantageously, this invention provides a firearm with an improved combustion chamber which provides more efficient burning of a propellant charge.
Advantageously, this invention provides a firearm with an improved combustion chamber which provides greater projectile velocity.
Advantageously, this invention provides a firearm with an improved combustion chamber which prevents inadvertent movement of a projectile into the combustion chamber.
Advantageously, this invention provides a firearm with an improved combustion chamber for a muzzleloading firearm which may be adapted to existing muzzleloading firearm technologies;
Advantageously, in a preferred example of this invention, an improved muzzleloading firearm is provided. The firearm is provided with a barrel having an interior of a first diameter coupled in fluid communication with a combustion chamber having a second diameter, wherein the second diameter is greater than the first diameter. The firearm is also provided with a trigger and an ignition system which provides ignition to the combustion chamber upon actuation of the trigger. In the preferred embodiment, the firearm is provided with an ignition stem which extends into the combustion chamber to ignite the muzzle end of the powder and prevent a projectile from entering into the combustion chamber a sufficient distance to become lodged therein.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThe present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:
A muzzleloading firearm according to the present invention is shown generally as (10) in
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in the drawings, the bore (36) is provided with lands (40) and grooves (42) which make up the rifling of the bore (36), and which stabilize the projectile (44), which may be a patched lead bullet, a sabot jacketed round or any other projectile known in the art. The bore (36) may be of any diameter known in the art, but is preferably greater than 32 caliber, more preferably greater than 44 caliber, and most preferably of a caliber ranging between 45 caliber and 54 caliber.
The length of the combustion chamber (28) is sized to accommodate the ignition stem (30) and the desired amount of power (34) for the desired diameter. Preferably, the dimensions are provided so that the length of the combustion chamber (28) and ignition stem (30) co-act to prevent the center line of the bullet (44) from extending rearward past the step (38) into the combustion chamber (28). If the bullet (44) is provided of a cylindrical configuration, such as that shown in
If the combustion chamber (28) is too long in relationship to the ignition stem (20), the bullet (44) may accidentally be pushed into the combustion chamber (28) where, upon ignition of the powder (34), the bullet (44) may become wedged in the combustion chamber (28), causing a malfunction and possible bulging or even rupture of the barrel (20). Although the combustion chamber (28) is preferably cylindrical, it may, as shown in
When it is desired to utilize the present invention, the breech plug (32) is inserted into the breech plug retainer (24). As shown in
Once the breech plug (32) has been installed, to load the firearm (10), a predetermined amount of powder (34), 120 grains in the preferred embodiment, is measured and dropped into the combustion chamber (28), through the muzzle (58).
A patch (56) is then placed over the muzzle (58) and the bullet (44) is placed over the patch (56). The bullet (44) is thereafter thrust into the bore (36) of the barrel (20) by utilizing a bullet starter (not shown), or any other method known in the art. Thereafter, the bullet (44) and patch (56) are forced through the bore (36) by the ramrod (60) until the patch (56) sufficiently compacts the powder (34).
As shown in
If an insufficient amount of powder (34) is provided to prevent the bullet (44) from entering the combustion chamber (28), the ignition stem (30) contacts the bullet (44), thereby preventing the bullet (44) from becoming inadvertently lodged in the combustion chamber (28) during ignition and causing a malfunction. As shown in
An alternative embodiment of the present invention is shown generally as (62) in
Although the invention has been described with respect to a preferred embodiment thereof it to be also understood that is not to be so limited, since changes and modifications can be made therein which are within the full, intended scope of this invention as defined by the appended claims. Of course, it should be noted that the present invention may be utilized in association with any desired muzzleloading trigger assemblies, hammers, ignition systems, breech plugs, propellants, bullets and or bores known in the art.
Claims
1. An improved muzzleloading firearm comprising:
- (a) a bore having an interior of a first diameter;
- (b) a combustion chamber in fluid communication with said bore, wherein said combustion chamber is provided with an interior of a second diameter, wherein said second diameter is greater than said first diameter;
- (c) a trigger; and
- (d) means coupled to said trigger for providing ignition to said combustion chamber upon actuation of said trigger.
2. The improved muzzleloading firearm of claim 1, further comprising a breech plug operably secured relative to said combustion chamber.
3. The improved muzzleloading firearm of claim 2, further comprising a shaft secured to said breech plug and extending axially into said combustion chamber.
4. The improved muzzleloading firearm of claim 3, wherein said shaft is at least partially hollow.
5. The improved muzzleloading firearm of claim 1, wherein means are provided within said combustion chamber for preventing a projectile from entering said combustion chamber.
6. The improved muzzleloading firearm of claim 5, wherein said preventing means is a shaft extending at least partially along a center axis defined by said combustion chamber.
7. The improved muzzleloading firearm of claim 1, wherein said second diameter is at least one percent greater than said first diameter.
8. The improved muzzleloading firearm of claim 1, wherein said combustion chamber is no more than four inches long.
9. The improved muzzleloading firearm of claim 1, wherein said second diameter tapers to said first diameter within ______ mm.
10. The improved muzzleloading firearm of claim 1, wherein said second diameter tapers to said first diameter at an angle greater than ______ degrees.
11. The improved muzzleloading firearm of claim 1, wherein at least seven inches of said bore is provided with an interior of said first diameter.
12. The improved muzzleloading firearm of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said bore is rifled.
13. The improved muzzleloading firearm of claim 12, wherein at least a portion of said combustion chamber is not rifled.
14. The improved muzzleloading firearm of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said combustion chamber is not rifled.
15. An improved muzzleloading firearm comprising:
- (a) a bore having an interior of a first diameter for at least five inches;
- (b) a combustion chamber in fluid communication with said bore, said combustion chamber being improved with an interior of a second diameter for no more than four inches;
- (c) a breech face, wherein said combustion chamber is located between said breech face and said bore;
- (d) a trigger;
- (e) means coupled to said trigger for providing ignition to said combustion chamber upon actuation of said trigger; and
- (f) means provided within said combustion chamber for preventing a projectile from exiting said bore into said combustion chamber.
16. The improved muzzleloading firearm of claim 15, wherein said breech face is provided on a breech plug.
17. The improved muzzleloading firearm of claim 16, wherein said preventing means is a shaft secured to said breech plug.
18. The improved muzzleloading firearm of claim 15, wherein said second diameter is at least one percent greater than said first diameter.
19. An improved muzzleloading firearm comprising:
- (a) a bore having an interior of a first diameter;
- (b) a combustion chamber in fluid communication with said bore, wherein said combustion chamber is provided with an interior of a second diameter, wherein said second diameter is greater than said first diameter;
- (c) a trigger;
- (d) a shaft extending at least partially into said combustion chamber; and
- (e) means coupled to said trigger for providing ignition through said shaft and into said combustion chamber.
20. The improved muzzleloading firearm of claim 19, further comprising:
- (a) a propellant provided within said combustion chamber; and
- (b) a projectile in contact with said shaft.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 8, 2004
Publication Date: Sep 8, 2005
Inventor: Eric Hengstenberg (Cincinnati, IA)
Application Number: 10/795,661