Clamp on gas block apparatus

Abstract

Gas block apparatus for receiving combustion gases from a firearm barrel clamps onto the barrel. A block is disposed on the top of the barrel and a clamp portion is disposed on the bottom of the barrel and clamps onto the block to secure the block to the barrel. The block is aligned to a gas bore in the barrel through which combustion gases flow and a pair of bores, vertical and horizontal, in the block receive the combustion gases. A key system or a pin system may be used for aligning the vertical bore in the block to the gas bore in the barrel.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to gas blocks, and more particularly, to gas blocks for firearms having a gas actuated action, such as AR-15 style rifles and pistols.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Prior art gas blocks are one piece elements located on their rifle barrels and, of course, appropriately aligned with the hole in the barrel through which the gases from the fired cartridge flow into the gas block and back to the action for expelling the spent cartridge case and for chambering a fresh cartridge. Such gas blocks cannot be readily removed from a barrel which has a muzzle brake or a flash suppressor installed.

A clamp on gas block of the present invention may be easily removed without the need for special equipment and by unskilled personnel. Such a gas block may also be removed as an aid in cleaning or repairing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The clamp on gas block of the present invention comprises a two piece unit appropriately secured to a firearm barrel by a keyed, pinned, or other connection. The two piece unit includes a top portion aligned to the rifle gas discharge hole. The unit includes rails for adding attachments, such as a laser, a flashlight, pop up sight, etc.

Among the objects of the present invention are the following:

To provide new and useful gas block apparatus for a firearm;

To provide new and useful gas block apparatus having at least two elements;

To provide new and useful gas block apparatus keyed to a firearm barrel for appropriate alignment with a gas discharge hole;

To provide new and useful gas block apparatus having an alignment pin for appropriate alignment with a gas discharge hole;

To provide new and useful gas block apparatus having two parts including a top block portion and a bottom clamp portion; and

To provide new and useful gas block apparatus having rails for attaching desirable elements to a firearm barrel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a side view of an AR-15 style rifle including the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of the rifle of FIG. 1 with the present invention attached.

FIG. 3 is a front view in partial section of the apparatus of the present invention taken generally along line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a front view of an alternate embodiment of the gas block apparatus shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view in partial section of a portion of the present invention illustrating elements for aligning the gas block apparatus on a rifle barrel.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view in partial section of an alternate embodiment of the elements illustrated in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view in partial section of another alternate embodiment of the apparatus of FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view in partial section of another alternate embodiment of the apparatus of FIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 is a side view of an AR-15 style rifle 10 on which a clamp on gas block apparatus 40 of the present invention is installed. The rifle 10, in addition to other elements not part of or necessary for an understanding of the present invention, includes a stock 12, an action 14, a trigger 16, a hand grip 18, a magazine holder 20, a barrel 22, a hand guard 24, a sight and a carrying handle 26. The rifle 10 also includes a magazine adapter 30 and a magazine 32 is disposed in the adapter 30 and is in operative communication with the magazine 32.

On top of the barrel 22 is the clamp on gas block apparatus 40 of the present invention, and a tube 36 extends from the gas block apparatus 40 to the action 14. Combustion gases, or gases resulting from the firing of a cartridge, flow down the barrel 22 and flow from the barrel 22 through a gas bore in the barrel to the block apparatus 40 and into and through the tube 36 to the action 14.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of the barrel 22 with the clamp on gas block apparatus 40 shown secured to the barrel 22 and with a portion of the tube 36 shown secured to the gas block apparatus 40.

FIG. 3 is a view in partial section of the barrel 22 and the clamp on gas block apparatus 40 secured to the barrel 22. For the following discussion, reference will primarily be made to FIGS. 2 and 3.

The clamp on gas block apparatus 40 includes a block 42 and a clamp 70. The block 42 includes a central bottom curved surface 44 which conforms to the curvature of the barrel 22. Extending outwardly from the curved surface 44 are two connector surfaces 46 and 48. The surfaces 46 and 48 are generally planar and parallel with each other.

The block 40 also includes three rail elements 50, 52, and 54. The rail element 50 is disposed on the top of the block 42 and the rail elements 52 and 54 comprise side rail lobes on the block 40. The rail elements 50, 52, and 54 allow desirable elements to be secured to the rifle 10, as referred to above.

A bore 56 extends vertically in the block 42 and communicates with a horizontal bore 58 also in the block 42. The bore 58 receives one end of the tube 36. The bore 56 is generally perpendicular to the bore 58. The tube 36 includes a bore 60 which is aligned with the bore 56.

The bore vertical 56 is aligned with a gas hole or bore 38 in the barrel 22. The gas bore 38 extends from a bore 34 in the barrel 22 to the top of the barrel 22. The combustion gases flow down the bore 34 of the barrel 22 behind a bullet, not shown, propelling the bullet outwardly from the barrel 22. When the gases reach the bore 38, the gases flow upwardly into and through the bore 38 and into the bore 56 and on into the aligned bore 60 in the tube 36. From the bore 60, the gases flow through the tube 36 to the action 14. The tube 36 is disposed in the bore 58, as stated above. As is well known and understood, the combustion gases operate the action 14 to eject the spent cartridge case and load a fresh cartridge into the chamber of the action 14.

The clamp portion 70 of the apparatus 40 includes an upper curved surface 72 which curved surface aligns with the curved surface 44 of the block 42 and accordingly is disposed against the bottom portion of the barrel 22. Extending outwardly from the curved surface 72 are two connector surfaces or lands 74 and 76. The surfaces 74 and 76 are disposed against the connector surfaces or lands 46 and 48, respectfully. Screws 80 and 82 extend through bores or holes in the clamp 70 and into tapped apertures in the block 42 to secure the block 42 to the barrel 22. The surfaces or lands 74, 46 and 76, 48 are generally planar for a precision fit between the block 42 and the clamp 70.

FIG. 4 is a view in partial section through the barrel 22 and an alternate embodiment 100 of the clamp on gas block apparatus 40 as illustrated in FIG. 3.

The clamp on gas block apparatus 100 is substantially identical to the apparatus 40 except that the rail elements 50, 52, and 54 are not included.

The apparatus 100 includes a block 102, and the block 102 includes a bottom curved surface 104 and a pair of bottom connector surfaces 106 and 108.

A bore 110 extends into the block 102 from the bottom curved surface 104 and is appropriately aligned with the gas bore 38 in the barrel 22. The bore 110 extends to a bore 112. The tube 36 is secured to the block 102 of the clamp on gas block apparatus 100 in the bore 112. The bore 60 of the tube 36 is aligned with the bore 110 and the bore 38 for receiving the combustion gases from the barrel 22 through the bores 34 and 38.

The clamp element 120 includes an upper curved surface 122 which is appropriately mated to the curvature of the barrel 22 and is aligned with the curved surface 104 of the block 102. The aligned curved surfaces 104 and 122, together, comprise essentially a cylindrical surface which matingly engage outer surface of the barrel 22.

The clamp element 120 also includes a pair of upper clamping surfaces 124 and 126 which extend outwardly from the curved surface 122. The surfaces 124 and 126 are generally planar and aligned with each other. The surfaces 124 and 126 are disposed against the surfaces 106 and 108 of the block 102, respectively. The clamp 120 also includes a bottom surface 128 which is generally flat or planar, but which also may include a rail, a swivel mount, a sling ring, etc.

Extending upwardly from the surface 128 are two holes or apertures which extend through the surfaces 124 and 126 and are aligned with tapped apertures which extend upwardly from the surfaces 106 and 108, respectively. A pair of screws 130 and 132 extend through the holes or apertures in the clamping element 120 and into the tapped apertures in the block 102 to secure the two elements 102 and 120 together and to the barrel 22.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view in partial section of a portion of a rifle barrel 140 and a clamp 150 illustrating the alignment of the gas block apparatus of the present invention to a rifle barrel. The rifle barrel 140 includes a bore 142 and a gas bore 144 extends upwardly from the bore 142. Generally aligned with the gas bore 144 is an alignment hole 146. The alignment hole 146 extends upwardly into the rifle barrel 140 a relatively short distance.

A clamp element 150 is shown disposed against the bottom of the barrel 140, with a curved bottom portion 152 receiving the lower portion of the barrel 140. A pair of upper connector portions 154 and 156 extend outwardly from the curved portion 152 and appropriately mate with lower connector portions of a block, not shown. Also not shown are the screws and their bores which secure the clamp 150 to the block and to the rifle barrel 140.

An alignment pin 158 extends upwardly from the curved surface 152 and extends into the alignment hole 146 to align the clamp 150 and its block and the bores in the block (not shown, but see FIGS. 3 and 4) relative to the gas bore 144.

FIG. 6 is also an enlarged view in partial section of a portion of a barrel 170 and a clamp 180, illustrating an alternate embodiment of the elements shown in FIG. 5.

The barrel 170 includes a bore 172, and a gas bore 174 extends upwardly from the bore 172. Extending downwardly from the barrel 170, and appropriately aligned with the bore 174, is an alignment pin 176.

The clamp 180 includes an upper curved surface 182 which receives a lower portion of the barrel 170. A pair of connecting surfaces 184 and 186 extend outwardly from the curved surface 182. A pin receiving hole 188 extends downwardly into the clamp from the curved surface 182. The hole 188 is aligned with the pin 176 for the appropriate alignment of the clamp 180, and its block (not shown), as discussed above.

The embodiments of FIGS. 5 and 6 are essentially opposites with respect to the alignment pins and holes. Moreover, while the gas bores and pins and holes are shown vertically aligned, they need not be so aligned. They may be offset longitudinally, if desired. For convenience, they are shown vertically aligned.

FIG. 7 is also an enlarged view in partial section, illustrating another alternate embodiment of alignment elements. A barrel 200 is shown, along with a clamp 210. The barrel 200 includes a bore 202, and a gas bore 204 extends upwardly from the bore 204. Aligned vertically opposite the gas bore 204 is a key slot 206. The key slot 206 extends upwardly into the barrel 200 in an arcuate configuration.

The clamp 210 includes a curved surface 212 which receives the lower portion of the barrel 200. The clamp 210 also includes a pair of connector surfaces 214 and 215 which extend outwardly from the curved surface 212.

At the bottom of the curved surface 212 and vertically aligned with the bore 204 and the key slot 206 is a slot 218. A key 220 is disposed in and appropriately secured to the slot 220. The key 220 extends into the key slot 206 to properly align the clamp 210 to the barrel 200 to insure alignment of the bore 204 with a bore in the block (not shown) to which the clamp 210 will be secured. Again, reference to FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 or 4 may be made to understand the relationship between a block, a clamp, and the bores and tube through which the combustion gases flow from a barrel to the action of a rifle.

And, again, while the key slot 206 and the key 220 are shown vertically aligned, they may be longitudinally offset, if desired, as stated above. While perhaps more cumbersome than the alignments shown and discussed, there may also be alignments other than vertical or longitudinal, if desired. There need be only an alignment between the barrel and block and clamp elements that aligns the gas bore in a rifle barrel with the bore in a block. How that alignment is accomplished is a matter of choice or of manufacturing convenience.

FIG. 8 is a view in partial section illustrating another alignment method, comprising using the screws which are used to secure a clamp apparatus 250 to a rifle barrel as a pair of alignment pins. The screws are disposed in aligned recesses on the barrel and of course, through a clamp portion 270 and into a block portion 252 of the clamp apparatus 250.

FIG. 8 illustrates a barrel 230, with a gas bore 234 extending upwardly from a bore 232. At the sides of the barrel 230 are two aligned recesses 236 and 238.

Clamp apparatus 250 includes the block 252 and the clamp 270. The block 252 includes a pair of tapped bores 254 and 256. The block 252 also includes a bore 258 which is aligned with the gas bore 234 of the barrel 230 and a bore 260 which receives a gas tube, not shown.

The clamp 270 includes a bottom surface 272 and a pair of screw bores 274 and 276 which extend upwardly from the bottom surface 272. The bores 274 and 276 are aligned with the tapped bores 254 and 256, respectively.

A pair of screws 284 and 286 extend through the aligned bores 254,274 and 256, 276 and are disposed in the barrel recesses 236 and 238, respectively. The screws 284 and 286 comprise twin alignment pins for aligning the gas block apparatus 250 to the barrel 230 by means of the recesses 236 and 238. The screws 282 and 284 accordingly perform two functions, alignment pins in cooperation with the barrel recesses 236 and 238, and fastening elements for securing the clamp element 270 to the block element 252 and thus the clamp apparatus 250 to the barrel 230.

While the present invention is illustrated in conjunction with an AR-15 style rifle, the apparatus, as stated above, is applicable to any firearm which uses combustion gases flowing through a tube from the firearm barrel to the action. This includes rifles and pistols. The claims are accordingly not limited to a particular style firearm.

While the principles of the invention have been made clear in illustrative embodiments, there will be immediately obvious to those skilled in the art many modifications of structure, arrangement, proportions, the elements, materials, and components used in the practice of the invention, and otherwise, which are particularly adapted to specific environments and operative requirements without departing from those principles. The appended claims are intended to cover and embrace any and all such modifications, within the limits only of the true spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. Gas block apparatus for a firearm barrel having a gas bore through which combustion gases flow comprising in combination:

a first portion including a block having a bottom disposed on the firearm barrel and a rear face, a first bore in the block extending upwardly into the block from the bottom, a second bore communicating with the first bore and extending to the rear face;

a clamp portion having a top disposed on the firearm barrel and aligned with the block;

means for aligning the first bore of the block with the gas bore in the barrel through which the combustion gases flow; and

means for securing the clamp portion to the first portion.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the means for aligning the first bore of the block with the gas bore in the barrel comprises a slot on the barrel and a key on the clamp portion, and the key extends into the slot.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the means for aligning the first bore with the gas bore in the barrel comprises an alignment pin on the clamp portion and a hole in the barrel, and the pin extends into the hole.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the means for aligning the first bore with the gas bore in the barrel comprises an alignment pin on the barrel and a hole in the clamp portion, and the pin extends into the hole.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the means for securing the clamp portion to the first portion includes a pair of screws extending between the first portion and the clamp portion.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the second bore receives a tube through which the combustion gases flow from the block.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the first portion further includes at least a single set of rails for securing desired elements to the block.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the first portion further includes a plurality of sets of rails for securing a plurality of desired elements to the block.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the means for aligning the first bore in the block with the gas bore in the barrel includes a pair of recesses on the barrel and a pair of screws disposed in the recesses and extending from the clamp portion to the first portion.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 in which the means for securing the clamp portion to the first portion includes the pair of screws disposed in the pair of recesses and extending from the clamp portion to the first portion.