BREECH PLUG WITH MAGNETIC CONNECTOR
A breech plug for use with a muzzleloading firearm includes a magnetic holding member for drawing a primer into engagement with the breech plug and allowing simple disengagement of the primer after the firing of the associated firearm. The breech plug includes a cylindrical body having a distal end and a breech end, with the breech end defining a recessed seat that is surrounded by a shoulder to receive the magnetic holding member and primer. The magnetic holding member is secured to the shoulder or the recessed seat to attract the primer into engagement within the shoulder of the breech plug to be struck by a firing pin or hammer. After the firearm is shot, the user is able to easily remove the primer from the magnetic holding member.
This invention generally relates to breech plugs for muzzleloading firearms. More particularly, the invention relates to an improved breech plug for a muzzleloading firearm that holds a primer in a desired position.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONMuzzleloader weapons are those firearms having a barrel with a muzzle end and a breech end, and into which a bullet or projectile is loaded from the muzzle end of the firearm. Such firearms generally include a breech plug that is threadably received within the breech end of the barrel, with the breech plug typically having a nipple or similar member for receiving a primer. The primer is a preferred means for igniting black powder charge in the muzzleloading firearm, and includes a priming mixture that is usually covered with a foil or paper liner. The primer is placed on or proximate the breech end of the breech plug (such as in relation to the nipple) and, when the primer is struck, the explosive material within the primer is compressed between the shell of the primer and the breech plug, igniting a primary flash that is directed through the breech plug to a flash hole where the primary flash ignites a powder charge or propellant. In practice, the primer should fit the breech plug only tight enough so that it does not fall off when the barrel or breech plug is displaced from the firearm. A primer that is too tightly connected with the nipple could result in a premature discharge.
Various breech plug designs have been created over time to adapt the muzzleloading firearm to use the primer to address various problems, such as holding the primer in the plug until the firing of the firearm and then removing the casing of the cap from the plug after the firearm has been fired. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,216,380 describes a breech plug that incorporates a spring-loaded clip to hold a primer, with the clip being used to retain the primer within the breech plug. A disadvantage with this design is that the spring-loaded clip is difficult for the user to control, and it places an axial force on the primer that can potentially misalign the primer and further cause the firearm to sporadically malfunction. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 7,073,283 describes a breech plug that includes a primer holder, with the primer holder having a series of slots extending radially from a central aperture to receive the prongs of a retaining spring that will secure the primer in the holder. Thus, this design also presents a problem in that the primer-engaging spring is small and difficult to control while positioning the primer with the breech plug.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONA breech plug for use with a muzzleloading firearm is described herein comprising a magnetic holding member for securely drawing a primer into engagement with the breech plug and allowing simple disengagement of the primer after the firing of the associated firearm. The breech plug includes a cylindrical body having a distal end and a breech end. The breech end of the breech plug defines a recessed seat that is surrounded by a shoulder to receive the magnetic holding member and the primer. The magnetic holding member will abut and be secured to the shoulder or the recessed seat, or both, with the shoulder extending from the recessed seat and beyond the height of the magnetic holding member.
The magnetic holding member will thereby attract the primer into engagement with the breech plug within the shoulder of the breech plug to be struck by a firing pin or hammer of the firearm. The magnetic holding member is able to control the position of the primer so that it is in proper placement to be struck by the pin. After firing of the firearm, the user is able to easily remove the primer from the magnetic holding member.
A breech plug having a magnetic connector is depicted in the accompanying drawings, which form a portion of this disclosure, wherein:
An improved breech plug 10 engaged with a barrel 16 of a muzzleloading firearm 8 is illustrated in
A preferred embodiment of the improved breech plug 10 is further illustrated in
The breech end 22 of the breech plug 10 defines a cylindrically-shaped shoulder 28 surrounding a recessed seat 30 or base (see
The magnetic holding member 32 may be securely positioned within the shoulder 28 or on the seat 30 in a variety of ways. In one embodiment, an adhesive, such as the settable resinous liquid adhesive known by the trademark of Loctite®, may be used to connected the magnetic holding member 32 with the shoulder 28 or the seat 30. That is, the adhesive may be distributed around a portion of the outer periphery of the magnetic holding member 34 to engage the inner surface of the shoulder 28, the outer surface of the recessed seat 30, or both surfaces. In another embodiment, the magnetic holding member 32 may be press fit to tightly engage the shoulder 28 for a secure connection. In yet another embodiment, the magnetic field of the magnetic holding member 32 that is used to attract the primer 24 (as described further herein) could also be used to draw the magnetic holding member 32 into engagement with the breech plug 10.
Referring again to
The operation of the improved breech plug 10 in a muzzleloading firearm 8 is best illustrated in
Once the firearm 8 has been prepared, it is fired in a conventional manner by pulling a trigger 11 thereby causing the firing pin 9a or hammering element 9b to strike the primer 24. The struck primer 24 produces a flame and hot gases, which travel through the cavity 34 of the magnetic holding member 32 and the central channel 26 of the breech plug 10 and into the powder to ignite the powder and cause rapid expansion of hot gases to propel the projectile from the barrel 16. After the primer 24 has been struck, the barrel 16 may be rotated or otherwise displaced for access to the breech end 22 of the cylindrical body 12, such that the used primer 24 may be easily removed and replaced with a new primer 24.
The foregoing description is set forth in a detailed manner, but it is to be understood that various modifications of detail, rearrangement, and multiplication of parts might be resorted to without departing from its spirit, essence, or scope. It is also contemplated that the improved breech plug can also be used in other firearms and apparatus.
Having thus described exemplary embodiments of the present invention, it should be noted by those skilled in the art that the within disclosures are exemplary only and that various other alternatives, adaptations, and modifications may be made within the scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments as illustrated herein, but is only limited by the following claims.
Claims
1. A breech plug for releasably holding a primer in a muzzleloading firearm comprising:
- a body having a distal end and a breech end, said breech end having a recessed seat surrounded by a shoulder; and
- a magnetic holding member abutting said shoulder and said recessed seat to attract the primer into engagement with said breech plug.
2. The breech plug as described in claim 1 further comprising:
- a first channel traversing said body, said first channel having a first diameter through a substantial portion of said body; and
- a second channel traversing said magnetic holding member, said second channel having a second diameter substantially equal to said first diameter.
3. The breech plug as described in claim 1, wherein said magnetic holding member is a donut magnet.
4. The breech plug as described in claim 1 further comprising an adhesive connecting said magnetic holding member with said recessed seat.
5. The breech plug as described in claim 1 further comprising an adhesive connecting said magnetic holding member with said shoulder.
6. The breech plug as described in claim 1 wherein said magnetic holding member is press fit to engage said breech end of said body.
7. The breech plug as described in claim 1 wherein said magnetic holding member is magnetically drawn to engage said breech end of said body.
8. A breech plug positioning a primer in a muzzleloading firearm in a desired position, said breech plug comprising:
- a cylindrical body having a first end and a second end, said second end defining a cylindrical shoulder around a recessed seat; and
- a magnet proximate said recessed seat to attract the primer into engagement with said breech plug.
9. The breech plug as described in claim 8 further comprising:
- a primary channel traversing said cylindrical body; and
- a secondary channel traversing said magnet.
10. The breech plug as described in claim 9, wherein said primary channel includes a first diameter and said secondary channel includes a second diameter, said second diameter being substantially equivalent to said first diameter.
11. The breech plug as described in claim 8, wherein said magnet is a tubular-shaped permanent magnet.
12. The breech plug as described in claim 8 further comprising an adhesive connecting said magnet with said recessed seat.
13. The breech plug as described in claim 8 further comprising an adhesive connecting said magnet with said shoulder.
14. The breech plug as described in claim 8 wherein said magnet is press fit to engage said second end of said cylindrical body.
15. The breech plug as described in claim 8 wherein said magnet is magnetically drawn to engage said second end of said cylindrical body.
16. In a muzzleloading firearm having a barrel with a breech end and a distal end, the improvement of a breech plug for accurately positioning a primer for use in the muzzleloading firearm comprising:
- a body having a first end and a second end, said second end including a shoulder adjoining a base; and
- a magnetic holding member proximate said second end to attract the primer into engagement with said breech plug.
17. The breech plug as described in claim 16 further comprising:
- a first channel traversing said body; and
- a second channel traversing said magnetic holding member, wherein said first channel is coaxial to said second channel.
18. The breech plug as described in claim 17, wherein said primary channel includes a first diameter and said secondary channel includes a second diameter, said second diameter being substantially equivalent to said first diameter.
19. The breech plug as described in claim 16 wherein said shoulder includes an inner diameter and said magnetic holding member includes an outer diameter, wherein said inner diameter is slightly greater than said outer diameter.
20. The breech plug as described in claim 16 further comprising means for positioning said magnetic holding member proximate said second end of said breech plug.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 24, 2006
Publication Date: Apr 24, 2008
Inventor: Aaron Simms (Albia, IA)
Application Number: 11/552,382