ADJUSTABLE GAS BLOCK
Embodiments of adjustable gas block devices and methods of using the same are described. In one embodiment, an adjustable gas block device includes a gas block to communicate gas from a gas port in a barrel to a gas tube. The adjustable gas block may also include an orifice ring to select one of a plurality of preset gas flow settings for controlling the flow of gas between the barrel and the gas tube. Additionally, the adjustable gas block may include a spring ring to retain the orifice ring setting.
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This disclosure relates generally to firearm accessories, and more specifically, to embodiments of adjustable gas blocks and methods for using the same.
BACKGROUNDFirearms come in a variety of types and styles. One of the most commonly used firearm types is a repeat-fire design that feeds cartridges from a magazine into the chamber of the firearm without manual feed operation. Repeat-fire designs include semi-automatic and automatic variants. In many repeat-fire weapons, explosive gases from firing a cartridge are used to cycle the cartridge feed mechanism, which often includes a bolt, a bolt carrier group, and a spring for biasing the bolt in a predetermined position. Examples of such firearms include, but are not limited to, AR-15 style hunting and sporting rifles and M16 automatic military style rifles. Repeat-fire weapons often include a ported barrel and a gas block assembly coupled to a gas port in the ported barrel for communicating expanding gases within the barrel to a gas tube, which communicates a portion of the expanding gas to the bolt carrier assembly for cycling the cartridge feed mechanism. The volume of gas and rate of flow of gas communicated through the gas tube depends upon the size of the gas port, or depends upon constriction of the gas port from the gas block assembly.
For some environmental conditions or circumstances, the volume and rate of flow of the discharged gas may need to be adjusted. Additionally, use of different types of ammunition may require changing the volume and rate of flow of the discharged gases. Furthermore, use of suppressors may also require the changing of the volume and rate of flow of the discharged gases. With current solutions to this scenario, or others similar to it, changing the entirety of the gas block assembly may be required. Alternatively, the use of a specialized tool may be required to adjust the gas block body, and therefore the volume and rate of flow of the discharged gas.
The following drawings form part of the present specification and are included to further demonstrate certain aspects of the present invention. The invention may be better understood by reference to one or more of these drawings in combination with the detailed description of specific embodiments presented herein.
Various features and advantageous details are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and detailed in the following description. Descriptions of well-known starting materials, processing techniques, components, and equipment are omitted so as not to unnecessarily obscure the invention in detail. It should be understood, however, that the detailed description and the specific examples, while indicating embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, and not by way of limitation. Various substitutions, modifications, additions, and/or rearrangements within the spirit and/or scope of the underlying inventive concept will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure.
Embodiments of adjustable gas blocks, and associated assemblies and methods of operating the same, are described. In an embodiment, an adjustable gas block may include a gas block to communicate gas from a gas port in a barrel to a gas tube. Additionally, the adjustable gas block may include an orifice ring to select one of a plurality of preset gas flow settings for controlling the flow of gas between the barrel and the gas tube. The adjustable gas block assembly may also include a spring ring to retain the orifice ring setting.
In an embodiment a method of operating the adjustable gas block may include adjusting an orifice ring coupled to a gas block to one of a plurality of preset gas flow settings for controlling flow of gas between a gas port in a barrel and a gas tube, retaining the orifice ring setting with a spring ring. The figures described below illustrate various embodiments of adjustable gas blocks and methods for operating the same.
In an embodiment, a gas block assembly 106 may redirect a portion of discharged gas into the gas tube 104. A gas block assembly 106 may be made from a variety of metals, metal alloys, or the like. A gas block assembly 106 may be machined using lathes, milling machines, or the like. Alternatively, components of the gas block assembly 106 may be manufactured from stamped metal, cast metal, or the like.
In an embodiment, a barrel 102 may guide a projectile 706 out of the bore 502. A barrel 102 may be manufactured from a variety of metals, metals alloys, or the like. In an embodiment, a barrel 102 may be machined using a boring device, such as a lathe, gun drill, or the like.
Although the invention(s) is/are described herein with reference to specific embodiments, various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention(s), as set forth in the claims below. Accordingly, the specification and figures are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention(s). Any benefits, advantages, or solutions to problems that are described herein with regard to specific embodiments are not intended to be construed as a critical, required, or essential feature or element of any or all the claims.
Unless stated otherwise, terms such as “first” and “second” are used to arbitrarily distinguish between the elements such terms describe. Thus, these terms are not necessarily intended to indicate temporal or other prioritization of such elements. The terms “coupled” or “operably coupled” are defined as connected, although not necessarily directly, and not necessarily mechanically. The terms “a” and “an” are defined as one or more unless stated otherwise. The terms “comprise” (and any form of comprise, such as “comprises” and “comprising”), “have” (and any form of have, such as “has” and “having”), “include” (and any form of include, such as “includes” and “including”) and “contain” (and any form of contain, such as “contains” and “containing”) are open-ended linking verbs. As a result, a system, device, or apparatus that “comprises,” “has,” “includes” or “contains” one or more elements possesses those one or more elements but is not limited to possessing only those one or more elements. Similarly, a method or process that “comprises,” “has,” “includes” or “contains” one or more operations possesses those one or more operations but is not limited to possessing only those one or more operations.
Claims
1. An apparatus, comprising:
- a gas block to communicate gas from a gas port in a barrel to a gas tube;
- an orifice ring to select one of a plurality of preset gas flow settings for controlling the flow of gas between the barrel and the gas tube; and
- a spring ring to retain the orifice ring setting.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the orifice ring further comprises a plurality of adjusting detents for adjusting a setting of the orifice ring.
3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the plurality of adjusting detents are configured to be adjustable by hand.
4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the plurality of adjustable detents are configured to be adjusted by a tip of a bullet.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an accessory mounting system coupled to the gas block.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the spring ring comprises one or more spring ring protrusions configured to retain the spring ring in place relative to the gas block.
7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the gas block comprises one or more notches configured to receive the spring ring protrusion.
8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the orifice ring further comprises a plurality of orifice ring detents configured to retain the orifice ring in a selected position relative to the gas block.
9. A method, comprising:
- adjusting an orifice ring coupled to a gas block to one of a plurality of preset gas flow settings for controlling flow of gas between a gas port in a barrel and a gas tube; and retaining the orifice ring setting with a spring ring.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein adjusting the orifice ring further comprises rotating the orifice ring around a longitudinal axis defined by a length of the barrel.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein rotating the orifice ring is performed by inserting a tip of a bullet cartridge into one of a plurality of adjusting detents in the orifice ring and applying an rotational force to the orifice ring.
12. The method of claim 9, wherein the orifice ring is adjustable by hand.
Type: Application
Filed: May 25, 2018
Publication Date: Nov 28, 2019
Applicant: KBA Custom, LLC (Magnolia, TX)
Inventor: Christopher Michael Waits (Magnolia, TX)
Application Number: 15/990,380