BREECH PLUG CLEANING TOOL
A cleaning tool set is used to clean carbon build-up from a breech plug. The cleaning tool set includes a first tool configured to remove the carbon buildup from the primer pocket and intermediate flash channel of the breech plug and a second tool configured to remove carbon buildup from the flash hole of the breech plug.
This application claims the priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/405,311 filed Oct. 21, 2010.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe invention relates to apparatus for cleaning a firearm, and more particularly to tools for cleaning carbon buildup inside the intermediate flash channel and flash hole in a breech plug.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONModern muzzle-loading rifles and other muzzle-loading firearms are comprised of a barrel with an axial bore and a supporting stock. However, a muzzle-loading rifle is loaded by inserting a charge of loose or pelletized black powder or a black powder substitute and a patch or a sabot containing a projectile and tamping the charge securely into the breech end of the barrel. The powder is then ignited, e.g., by striking a percussion cap, or a primer, which sends a flame, normally through a small opening or flame bore, into the breech of the barrel through a breech plug which separates the primer from the powder charge. Upon ignition of the powder charge, the projectile is fired through the muzzle end of the barrel.
Many modern muzzle-loading firearms employ shotgun shell primers to ensure adequate ignition. Shotgun shell primers contain a much larger charge of explosive material than do pistol or rifle primers and produce a hotter ignition flame. While a larger charge of explosive material helps ensure ignition of the propellant, it produces a great deal of carbon fouling within the channels of the breech plug in the process. Excessive firing will cause an unacceptable amount of carbon fouling to be deposited in the breech plug channels. Repetitive fouling results in the channels becoming smaller and smaller in diameter as carbon layer builds upon carbon layer. Depending on conditions, this can sometimes occur within as little as three shots. As carbon accumulates, ignition becomes erratic and unreliable which in turn degrades accuracy. Continued firing results in poorer and poorer ignition until eventually the small flash channel located near the front of the breech plug becomes completely plugged off. A bridged-off flash channel prevents the primer flash from making contact with the propellant. This results in a situation in which the shooter has a loaded firearm that will not fire at all. If the shooter or hunter is on the range or in the field, he or she will have to leave the area and remove the breech plug and immerse it in a solvent to clear the flash channel. Cleaning the breech plug with solvent is messy, time consuming and highly inconvenient.
One of the main keys to the proper operation and the overall safety of firearms is keeping them clean. This is particularly true for muzzle-loading rifles, since they utilize black powder and not today's modern smokeless powder. One of the most frequently passed-over parts is the breech plug. Ignition-based residue from the primer coats the action and the inside of the breech plug. Failure to adequately and frequently clean the breech plug permits carbon buildup that degrades accuracy and eventually leads to blockage of the fire channel. Typically, this carbon residue has been removed using various solvents. The breech plug is removed from the firearm and a container is filled with enough carbon solvent to cover the breech plug and the breech plug is left to soak in the solvent for several hours. The breech plug is then dried and reinstalled in the receiver. However, this is time consuming and is inconvenient to do in the field.
It is desired to have an improved cleaning tool set for use in cleaning carbon build-up from the breech plug.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect, the invention is directed to a cleaning tool set used to clean carbon build-up from a breech plug. The cleaning tool set includes a first tool configured to remove the carbon buildup from the primer pocket and intermediate flash channel of the breech plug, and a second tool configured to remove carbon buildup from the flash hole of the breech plug.
Advantages of the present invention will become more apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description of the embodiments of the invention which have been shown and described by way of illustration. As will be realized, the invention is capable of other and different embodiments, and its details are capable of modification in various respects.
These and other features of the present invention, and their advantages, are illustrated specifically in embodiments of the invention now to be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which:
It should be noted that all the drawings are diagrammatic and not drawn to scale. Relative dimensions and proportions of parts of these figures have been shown exaggerated or reduced in size for the sake of clarity and convenience in the drawings. The same reference numbers are generally used to refer to corresponding or similar features in the different embodiments. Accordingly, the drawing(s) and description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTThe invention will now be described in the following detailed description with reference to the drawings, wherein preferred embodiments are described in detail to enable practice of the invention. Although the invention is described with reference to these specific preferred embodiments, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to these preferred embodiments. But to the contrary, the invention includes numerous alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as will become apparent from consideration of the following detailed description.
Muzzle-loading firearms have a barrel with a central axial bore that extends from the breech end of the barrel to the muzzle or discharge end of the firearm. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that these muzzle-loading firearms utilize a breech plug, illustrated in
An exemplary embodiment of a breech plug 10 is shown in
With respect to
In an embodiment, as shown in
A first handle 30 is positioned adjacent to one end of the first cleaning shaft 26. The first handle 30 is operatively connected to the first cleaning shaft 26. The first handle 30 has a thumb knob 32 that is used to rotate the first tool 22 when the first cleaning shaft 26 is positioned within the intermediate flash channel 14. The first handle 30 also includes a primer chamber cleaning shoulder 34 that extends from the thumb knob 32. A portion of the first cleaning shaft 26 is received within the cleaning shoulder 34, and the cleaning shoulder 34 is configured to be received within the primer chamber 12 (
In one embodiment of the first tool 22, as shown in
In an embodiment, the first handle 30 is movable along the length of the first cleaning shaft 26 so that the position of the first handle 30 with respect to the first cleaning shaft 26 is adjustable, such that the first tool 22 may be adjusted to fit different lengths of intermediate flash channels 14 in various breech plugs 10. The first handle 30 is selectively secureable to the first cleaning shaft 26, wherein the first handle 30 can be attached to the first cleaning shaft 26 at any location along the length thereof. In one embodiment, the first cleaning shaft 26 is secured in the first handle 30 with a first set screw 40. However, other known means to secure the first cleaning shaft 26 in the first handle 30 may be used using sound engineering judgment without departing from the scope of the invention.
As shown in
In one embodiment, as shown in
In an embodiment, the second handle 42 is selectively securable along the length of the extension shaft 44 so that the position of the second handle 42 with respect to the extension shaft 44 may be adjusted. The selective positioning of the second handle 42 along the length of the extension shaft 44 allows the second handle 42 to be positioned such that the second cleaning shaft 46 is retracted within, or surrounded by, the second handle 42 to protect the second cleaning shaft 46. In one embodiment, the extension shaft 44 is secured in the handle with a second set screw 50. However, other known means to secure the extension shaft 44 in the second handle 42 may be used using sound engineering judgment without departing from the scope of the invention.
Once the first tool 22 has been used to clean the primer chamber 12 and the flash channel 14, the second tool 24 can be used to clean the flash hole 16 of the breech plug 10, as shown in
While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described, it should be understood that the present invention is not so limited and modifications may be made without departing from the present invention. The scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims, and all devices, processes, and methods that come within the meaning of the claims, either literally or by equivalence, are intended to be embraced therein.
Claims
1. A breech plug cleaning tool comprising:
- a first tool having a first handle operatively connected to a first cleaning shaft, wherein said first cleaning shaft has first flutes; and
- a second tool having a second handle operatively connected to an extension shaft, wherein a second cleaning shaft extends from a distal end of said extension shaft, and wherein said second cleaning shaft has second flutes.
2. The breech plug cleaning tool of claim 1, wherein said first tool further includes a cleaning shoulder extending from said first handle, said cleaning shoulder positioned about at least a portion of said first cleaning shaft.
3. The breech plug cleaning tool of claim 2, wherein said cleaning shoulder includes at least one slot formed through a thickness thereof.
4. The breech plug cleaning tool of claim 1, wherein said first handle is selectively secureable to said first cleaning shaft such that said first handle is securingly positionable along a length of said first cleaning shaft.
5. The breech plug cleaning tool of claim 4, wherein said first handle is selectively secureable to said first cleaning shaft by a set screw.
6. The breech plug cleaning tool of claim 1, wherein said second handle is selectively secureable to said extension shaft such that said second handle is securingly positionable along a length of said extension shaft.
7. The breech plug cleaning tool of claim 6, wherein said second handle is selectively secureable to said extension shaft by a set screw.
8. A breech plug cleaning kit comprising:
- a first tool having a first handle operatively connected to a first cleaning shaft, wherein said first cleaning shaft has first flutes, and wherein said first handle includes a cleaning shoulder; and
- a second tool having a second handle operatively connected to a second cleaning shaft, wherein said second cleaning shaft has second flutes.
9. The breech plug cleaning kit of claim 8, wherein said second cleaning shaft extends from a distal end of an extension shaft, and said second handle being positionally adjustable along a length of said extension shaft relative to said second cleaning shaft.
10. The breech plug cleaning kit of claim 9 further comprising a set screw for selectively securing said second handle to said extension shaft.
11. The breech plug cleaning kit of claim 8 further comprising a set screw for selectively securing said first handle to said first cleaning shaft.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 18, 2011
Publication Date: Apr 26, 2012
Inventor: Thomas J. Burczynski (Montour Falls, NY)
Application Number: 13/276,036
International Classification: F41A 29/02 (20060101);