INJECTION MOLDED GUN BARREL ASSEMBLY

Abstract

A gun barrel assembly includes an outer casing, an inner liner and a tubular breech insert, all of which extend longitudinally from a muzzle end to a breech end. The casing is composed of a polymeric material or resin matrix material filled with carbon fibers and the liner is composed of a metal material. A muzzle end portion of the insert is disposed within the breech end portion of the casing bore. One or more structures on the breech insert muzzle end portion are interlocked with the casing breech end portion.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/786,862 filed Mar. 15, 2013.

BACKGROUND

This disclosure relates generally to composite tubes. More particularly, this disclosure relates to composite tubes for gun barrels.

Composite gun barrels are desirable because they permit the construction of lightweight firearms. A composite barrel such as one constructed from a tube made of polymeric materials or carbon fiber and epoxy resin materials, however, typically lacks sufficient stiffness to maintain its integrity for accurate reproducible firing. Even when the composite barrel includes an inner tubular liner, a firearm having such a composite barrel tends to be less accurate than a firearm having a conventional barrel.

SUMMARY

There is provided a gun barrel assembly comprising an outer casing, an inner liner and a tubular breech insert. The casing longitudinally extends from a muzzle end to a breech end has a muzzle end portion and a breech end portion, and an axial bore extending from the muzzle end to the breech end. The casing is composed of a polymeric material or resin matrix material filled with carbon fibers. The liner longitudinally extending from a muzzle end to a breech end, has a bore having a rifled inner surface and is composed of a metal material. The liner being disposed within the casing bore. The breech insert longitudinally extending from a muzzle end to a breech end, and has a muzzle end portion disposed within the breech end portion of the casing bore. The breech insert muzzle end portion includes at least one structure interlocked with the casing breech end portion.

The gun barrel assembly does not include a muzzle cap.

The structure on the breech insert muzzle end portion is encased in the material of the casing breech end portion.

The breech insert interfaces with a receiver of a firearm.

The muzzle end portion of the casing extends longitudinally past the muzzle end of the liner, such that the liner is recessed from the muzzle end of the casing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present disclosure may be better understood and its numerous objects and advantages will become apparent to those skilled in the art by reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of an injection molded gun barrel assembly in accordance with the disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a cross-section view of the gun barrel assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the barrel liner and breech insert of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross-section view of area IV of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary side view of the barrel liner of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of the breech insert of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a left-side view of the breech insert of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a right-side view of the breech insert of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 9 is a cross-section view taken along line IX-IX of FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to the drawings, an injection molded gun barrel assembly 10 in accordance with the disclosure has minimum deflection and optimal accuracy derived from production processes.

The barrel assembly 10 includes three components, an inner tubular liner 12, a breech cap or insert 14 and an outer sheath or casing 16 formed from an injection molded material. The inner tubular liner 12 defines a bore axis 18 extending longitudinally from a breech end 20 to a muzzle end 22. The liner 12 is rifled 24 and is composed of a metal material, for example steel.

The tubular breech insert 14 extends longitudinally from a muzzle end 26 to a breech end 28 and has a bore 30 that is coaxial with the liner bore axis 18 when installed. The breech insert 14 is interlocked into the molded material of the outer casing 16 through geometries/structures 32 in the muzzle end portion 34 of the breech insert 14 to mount the breech insert 14 to the breech end portion 36 of the casing 16. In the example shown in FIGS. 6-9, the breech end of the casing 16 abuts an outer circumferential shoulder 40 on the breech insert 14. In addition, first and second circumferential rings 42, 44 extending outwardly from the outer surface 46 of the muzzle end portion 34 of the breech insert 14 are encased in the material of the casing 16 during the molding of the casing 16 as explained further below. The breech insert geometries 32 prevent lateral or longitudinal movement between the breech insert 14 and the outer casing 16. The breech insert 14 also interfaces with the receiver (not shown) of the firearm to create a positive lockup between the barrel assembly 10 and the receiver.

The breech end portion 48 of the liner 12 is press fitted into the breech insert bore 30 such that the breech ends 20, 28 of the liner 12 and the breech insert 14 are substantially aligned and a transverse opening 50 in the breech insert 14 and a transverse groove 52 in the outer surface 54 of the liner 12 are aligned. Thus joined, the breech insert 14 and inner liner 12 are placed into a mold which is then closed. The material of the outer casing 16 is then injected into the mold. The material may be a polymeric material, resin matrix material filled with carbon fibers, or other suitable material. The mold includes provisions for forming a transverse opening 56 aligned with the breech insert transverse opening 50. After the outer casing 16 has completed curing, the barrel assembly 10 is machined to finished dimensions. When the gun barrel assembly 10 is assembled with the receiver, a pin is inserted through the casing transverse opening 56, the breech insert transverse opening 50 and the liner transverse groove 52 and corresponding openings in the receiver lock the gun barrel assembly 10 to the receiver.

The outer casing 16 produced by the mold may have an integral compensator 58 and front sight 60, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The casing 16 may also have integral circumferential fins 62 extending from the outer surface. The muzzle end portion 64 of the outer casing 16 extends past the muzzle end 22 of the inner liner 12, as shown in FIG. 2, such that the inner liner 12 is recessed from the muzzle end 66 of the barrel assembly 10.

It should be appreciated that the subject barrel assembly 10 is unique in that: 1) the breech insert 14 interlocks internally with the outer casing 16; 2) the barrel assembly 10 may have an integral compensator 58 and/or front sight 60; 3) the barrel assembly 10 does not include the muzzle cap found in conventional composite barrels; and 4) the muzzle end 22 of the inner liner 12 is recessed from the muzzle end 66 of the casing 16.

It should also be appreciated that various of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be desirably combined into many other different systems or applications.

Claims

1. A gun barrel assembly comprising:

an outer casing longitudinally extending from a muzzle end to a breech end, the outer casing being composed of a polymeric material or resin matrix material filled with carbon fibers, the casing defining an axial bore extending from the muzzle end to the breech end, the casing having a muzzle end portion and a breech end portion;

an inner liner longitudinally extending from a muzzle end to a breech end, the liner being disposed within the casing bore, the liner being composed of a metal material and defining a bore having a rifled inner surface; and

a tubular breech insert longitudinally extending from a muzzle end to a breech end, the breech insert having a muzzle end portion disposed within the breech end portion of the casing bore, the breech insert muzzle end portion including at least one structure interlocked with the casing breech end portion.

2. The gun barrel assembly of claim 1 wherein the gun barrel assembly does not include a muzzle cap.

3. The gun barrel assembly of claim 1 wherein the at least one structure on the breech insert muzzle end portion is encased in the material of the casing breech end portion.

4. The gun barrel assembly of claim 1 wherein the breech insert is adapted to interface with a receiver of a firearm.

5. The gun barrel assembly of claim 1 wherein the muzzle end portion of the casing extends longitudinally past the muzzle end of the liner, whereby the liner is recessed from the muzzle end of the casing.

6. A gun barrel assembly comprising:

an outer casing longitudinally extending from a muzzle end to a breech end, the outer casing being composed of a polymeric material or resin matrix material filled with carbon fibers, the casing defining an axial bore extending from the muzzle end to the breech end, the casing having a muzzle end portion and a breech end portion;

an inner liner longitudinally extending from a muzzle end to a breech end, the liner being disposed within the casing bore, the liner being composed of a metal material and defining a bore having a rifled inner surface; and

a tubular breech insert longitudinally extending from a muzzle end to a breech end, the breech insert having a muzzle end portion disposed within the breech end portion of the casing bore, the breech insert muzzle end portion including at least one structure encased in the material of the casing breech end portion.

7. The gun barrel assembly of claim 6 wherein the gun barrel assembly does not include a muzzle cap.

8. The gun barrel assembly of claim 6 wherein the breech insert is adapted to interface with a receiver of a firearm.

9. The gun barrel assembly of claim 6 wherein the muzzle end portion of the casing extends longitudinally past the muzzle end of the liner, whereby the liner is recessed from the muzzle end of the casing.

10. A gun barrel assembly comprising:

an outer casing longitudinally extending from a muzzle end to a breech end, the outer casing being composed of a polymeric material or resin matrix material filled with carbon fibers, the casing defining an axial bore extending from the muzzle end to the breech end, the casing having a muzzle end portion and a breech end portion;

an inner liner longitudinally extending from a muzzle end to a breech end, the liner being disposed within the casing bore, the liner being composed of a metal material and defining a bore having a rifled inner surface; and

a tubular breech insert longitudinally extending from a muzzle end to a breech end, the breech insert having a muzzle end portion disposed within the breech end portion of the casing bore, the breech insert muzzle end portion including at least one structure encased in the material of the casing breech end portion;

wherein the muzzle end portion of the casing extends longitudinally past the muzzle end of the liner, whereby the liner is recessed from the muzzle end of the casing.

11. The gun barrel assembly of claim 10 wherein the gun barrel assembly does not include a muzzle cap.

12. The gun barrel assembly of claim 10 wherein the breech insert is adapted to interface with a receiver of a firearm.