DEVICE TO IMPROVE FIREARM PRECISION

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present disclosure claims priority to Provisional Application No. 63/699,502, filed Sep. 26, 2024, entitled “DEVICE TO IMPROVE FIREARM PRECISION” , the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.

BACKGROUND

Various designs and devices have been proposed and utilized to improve the precision and accuracy of firearms, including rifles. One known factor impacting the precision of rifles relates to the shockwave that travels down the length of the barrel upon firing of the firearm.

U.S. Pat. No. 11,761,742 discloses “a system and method for the determination of an optimal ammunition round based upon a barrel length of a given firearm and resulting ammunition.” Despite various improvements in firearms and firearm accessories, however, there remains a need for the further enhancement in precision of such arms.

SUMMARY

In some embodiments, a barrel device has a breech cap, a muzzle cap, a collet, and a main body. The breech cap has a first threaded portion and the muzzle cap has a second threaded portion. The main body has a first threaded portion and a second threaded portion. The first threaded portion of the main body is engaged with the first threaded portion of the breech cap and the second threaded portion of the main body is engaged with the second threaded portion of the muzzle cap. The collet is encircled by the main body.

In some embodiments, the barrel device includes a sleeve, and at least a portion of the sleeve extends around at least a portion of the barrel.

In some embodiments, the main body of the barrel device has an interior portion and at least a portion of the interior portion is conical.

In some embodiments, the first threaded portion of the breech cap has external threads.

In some embodiments, the second threaded portion of the muzzle cap has external threads.

In some embodiments, the muzzle cap has an inner bore, and the inner bore is larger than the bore diameter of the barrel.

In some embodiments, the muzzle cap abuts a distal end of the barrel.

In some embodiments, the sleeve is less than one inch in length.

In some embodiments, the muzzle cap further comprises a threaded portion.

In some embodiments, the threaded portion of the muzzle cap, such as a third threaded portion, is disposed along a distal end portion of the muzzle cap.

In some embodiments, the sleeve has a wall thickness, and the wall thickness varies along the length of the sleeve.

In some embodiments, a kit includes a sleeve, breech cap muzzle cap, collet, main body, and disassembly tool. The breech cap has a first threaded portion, and the muzzle cap has a second threaded portion. The collet is configured to extend around at least a portion of the sleeve. The main body is configured to extend around at least a portion of the collet.

In some embodiments, the disassembly tool has a counterbore.

In some embodiments, a barrel device for compressing a portion of a barrel includes a hollow body. The hollow body has an internal profile that matches the profile of the barrel.

In some embodiments, the barrel device is formed from a first material that is different from the material of the barrel.

In some embodiments, the barrel device is formed from a first material and the barrel is formed from a second material, wherein the first material is the same as the second material.

In some embodiments, a method of applying a barrel device to a barrel includes the steps of providing a barrel and providing a barrel device. The barrel has a distal end thereof and the barrel device has an aperture. The method of applying a barrel device to a barrel includes heating the barrel device and disposing the aperture of the heated barrel device over the distal portion of the barrel.

In some embodiments, the method also includes providing a barrel having a first material and the step of providing a barrel device includes providing a barrel having a second material different from the first material.

In some embodiments, the method also includes cooling the barrel device.

In some embodiments, upon cooling of the barrel device, the barrel device compresses the distal portion of the barrel.

In some embodiments, cooling the barrel device in conducted in the presence of a concentrated inert gas.

In some embodiments, the concentrated inert gas has a concentration of at least 75% of a gas mixture.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, like numerals may describe similar components in different views. The drawings illustrate generally, by way of example, but not by way of limitation, various embodiments discussed in the present document.

FIG. 1 shows a side view of a firearm with an embodiment of a barrel device.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the assembled barrel device on a barrel.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective exploded view of an embodiment of the barrel device of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 shows a cutaway view of an embodiment of the assembled barrel device of FIGS. and 3.

FIG. 5 shows a cutaway view of an embodiment of the assembled barrel device on a tapered barrel.

FIG. 6 shows a cutaway view of an embodiment of the assembled barrel device on a threaded barrel.

FIG. 7 shows a cutaway view of an embodiment of the assembled barrel device adapted to receive an accessory.

FIG. 8 shows a perspective exploded view of an embodiment of the barrel device with disassembly tool.

FIG. 9 shows a side exploded view of the embodiment of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 shows a cutaway exploded view of the embodiment of FIGS. 9 and 10.

FIG. 11 shows a cutaway view of the embodiment of FIGS. 8-10.

FIG. 12 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the barrel device.

FIG. 13 shows a cutaway view of the embodiment of FIG. 12.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With regard to FIG. 1, in some embodiments, a firearm 10 (such as a rifle) includes a barrel 12 and barrel device 14. In some embodiments, the barrel device 14 includes a plurality of components. For example, as shown in FIGS. 2-4, in some embodiments, the barrel device 14 includes a main body 16, breech cap 18, muzzle cap 20, sleeve 22, and collet 24. Upon assembly of the barrel device 14 on the distal portion 26 of the barrel 12, the barrel device 14 constrains the distal portion 26, especially the barrel crown 28, limiting expansion of the distal portion 26 of the barrel 12, for example due to the shockwave. In some embodiments, the barrel device 14 compresses the distal portion 26 of the barrel 12 in order to reduce the diameter of the bore 30.

In some embodiments, the diameter of the bore 30 is reduced in size between 0.00005″ and 0.005″. In some embodiments, the diameter of the bore 30 is reduced in size between 0.0001″ and 0.003″. In some embodiments, the diameter of the bore 30 is reduced in size between 0.0005″ and 0.002″. In some embodiments, the diameter of the bore 30 is reduced in size between 0.0005″ and 0.001″. In some embodiments, the diameter of the bore 30 is reduced in size between 0.0008″ and 0.0012″. In some embodiments, the barrel device 14 is used in conjunction with a barrel 12 having rifling in the form of lands and grooves, polygonal rifling, or in any other suitable form.

With additional reference to FIG. 4, in some embodiments, when assembled the barrel device 14 compresses the distal portion 26 of barrel 12. In some embodiments, the breech cap 18 has a proximal portion 32 and a distal portion 34. Further, in some embodiments, the distal portion 34 includes a threaded portion 36. As illustrated, the threaded portion 36 of the breech cap 18 has threads that are external and which are engageable with a proximal threaded portion 38 of the main body 16. As shown, in some embodiments, the proximal threaded portion 38 of the main body 16 comprises an internal thread such that the threaded portion 36 of the breech cap 18 is inside the proximal threaded portion 38 of the main body 16.

Referring further to the main body 16, in some embodiments, the main body 16 has a distal threaded portion 40. Further referring to FIG. 4, in some embodiments, the distal threaded portion 40 has internal threads. In turn, the internal threads of the distal threaded portion 40 are engageable with a threaded portion 42 of the muzzle cap 20. In some embodiments, the threaded portion 42 of the muzzle cap 20 is disposed between a distal portion 44 of the muzzle cap 20 and a proximal portion 46 of the muzzle cap 20. As further shown in FIG. 4, in some embodiments, the muzzle cap crown 48 has a taper or “cut back” feature, however, it can also have a recessed crown, target crown, rounded crown, chamfered crown, 9-degree crown, 11-degree crown, 13-degree crown, or any other suitable configuration. In some embodiments, and as shown for example in FIGS. 2 and 3, the periphery of the muzzle cap 20 is hexagonal in shape. As will be discussed later, this permits a user to assemble and tighten the components of the barrel device 14 with a common box end wrench, or similar common tools. Other shapes, such as square or round, can be utilized.

With reference to the main body 16, in some embodiments, the periphery of the main body 16 is hexagonal in shape, though, as discussed with respect to muzzle cap 20 other suitable shapes can also be used. In some embodiments, the main body 16 is formed from solid bar stock such as hexagonal bar stock or round bar stock, although an extrusion or other shape may also be used. In some embodiments, the internal portion of the middle portion 50 of the main body 16 is conical, tapering from a larger cross-sectional diameter nearer the proximal threaded portion 38 to a smaller cross-sectional diameter nearer the distal threaded portion 40. In this way, the internal portion of the middle portion 50 generally matches the external profile of the collet 24. As further shown with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, in some embodiments, the collet 24 tapers from a first end portion 52 to a second end portion 54. In some embodiments, the first end portion 52 is closer to the proximal threaded portion 38 of the main body 16 and the second end portion 54 is closer to the distal threaded portion 40 of the main body 16. Referring to FIG. 3, in some embodiments, the collet 24 defines one or more longitudinally extending slits 56. In some embodiments, the collet 24 has at least five longitudinally extending slits 56, at least six, seven, eight, or more longitudinally extending slits 56. In some embodiments, at least some of the longitudinally extending slits 56 extend from one end of the collet 24 and at least some of the longitudinally extending slits 56 extend from the other end of the collet 24. In some embodiments, the longitudinally extending slits 56 extend from only one end of the collet 24.

These slits 56 allow the collet 24 to compress and tightly hold the sleeve 22 (and barrel 12 within the sleeve 22). In some embodiments, the collet 24 tapers along a portion of its length. Further, in some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 4, the collet 24 extends beyond an end of the barrel 12, when assembled on the barrel 12 with the barrel device 14. As further shown in FIG. 4, in some embodiments, the collet 24 extends over a portion of the muzzle cap 20, for example over at least a portion of the proximal portion 46 of the muzzle cap.

In some embodiments, the sleeve 22 is disposed radially between a portion of the barrel 12 and at least a portion of the collet 24. The sleeve 22 helps prevent marring of the barrel 12 when the collet 24 is compressed around sleeve 22. As shown in FIG. 3, in some embodiments, the sleeve is generally a hollow cylinder defining a longitudinally extending gap 58. The longitudinally extending gap 58 permits the sleeve 22 to contract when a compressive force is applied to it by the collet 24. Although shown with a longitudinally extending gap 58, other configurations are also permitted, for example the sleeve 22 could be a hollow cylinder of relatively thin wall and could undergo plastic deformation when compressed. In some embodiments, the sleeve 22 is disposed between at least a portion of the barrel 12 and at least a portion of the breech cap 18. As shown in FIG. 4, in some embodiments, the sleeve 22 abuts the muzzle cap 20 and a distal end of the sleeve 22 is flush with the end of the barrel 12. In some embodiments, a portion of the sleeve 22 extends over the end of the barrel 12, for example as shown in FIG. 11. Some embodiments of the barrel device 14 do not include a sleeve 22 and the collet 24 directly contacts the barrel 12. In some embodiments, the sleeve 22, where utilized, is used to reduce or prevent marring of the barrel 12.

The barrel device 14 may be assembled, in some embodiments, by placing the collet 24 within the main body 24 and then loosely threading the muzzle cap 20 onto the main body 24. The sleeve 22 and the breech cap 18 are placed over the barrel 12 and the partially assembled subassembly of the collet 24, main body 24, and muzzle cap 20 are placed over the sleeve 22 and positioned so that a distal end of the sleeve 22 is generally flush with the end of the barrel 12. While the aforementioned subassembly is held in place, the breech cap 18 is threaded onto the main body 24 until the proximal end of the muzzle cap 20 comes into contact with the end of the barrel 12. The breech cap 18 is then tightened until the desired compression of the barrel 12 is achieved. “GO” and “NO-GO” gauges, or other suitable tools, can be used to verify the desired compression of the barrel 12 has been achieved. Other suitable methods and order of assembly and can also be utilized.

In some embodiments, the muzzle cap 20 may be integral with the main body 16. In this way, the muzzle cap 20 and the main body 16 are formed from a single piece of material, for example, or the muzzle cap 20 and the main body 16 are, for example, welded together. Such an example would not require threading the muzzle cap 20 to the main body 16.

Turning now to FIG. 5, in some embodiments, the barrel device 14 is fitted to a barrel 12 that is tapered. As shown, the sleeve 22 has a varying wall thickness along its length to match the taper of the barrel 12. In some embodiments, for example where the sleeve 22 is sufficiently short, it can be utilized in conjunction with a tapered barrel even without varying its wall thickness. In some embodiments, the sleeve 22 is less than 1 inch in length and in some embodiments less than ¾ inch in length. In particular, in some embodiments, the wall thickness of the sleeve 22 is greater at a distal end of the sleeve 22 than the proximal end of the sleeve 22, however any suitable arrangement can be utilized to match profile of the barrel 12.

In FIG. 6, in some embodiments, the barrel device 14 is fitted to a barrel 12 having a threaded muzzle end portion 60. As shown, the sleeve 22 comprises an inner threaded portion, permitting the sleeve 22 to be threadably engaged to the threaded muzzle end portion 60 of the barrel 12. In this way, the collet 24 compresses the sleeve 22 along the threaded muzzle end portion 60 of the barrel 12. In some embodiments, the sleeve 22 having an inner threaded portion is formed from a material such as brass or a steel that is softer than the material of the barrel 12. The outer diameter of the sleeve 22 will be larger than the adjacent outer diameter of the barrel 12 such that the collet 24 acts to compress the sleeve 22. The material utilized for the sleeve 22, especially where it is threaded, will permit the sleeve 22 to be compressed over the threaded muzzle end portion 60 without distorting or otherwise damaging the threads.

Turning now to FIG. 7, in some embodiments, the barrel device 14 includes a muzzle cap 20 having a first muzzle cap threaded portion 62 and a second muzzle cap threaded portion 64. As shown, in some embodiments, the first muzzle cap threaded portion 62 is configured to interact with the distal threaded portion 40 of the main body, while the second muzzle cap threaded portion 64 is configured to accommodate an accessory (not shown) such as a flash hider, compensator, suppressor, etc. In this way, the barrel device 14 can be provided in order to use such an accessory (e.g., flash hider, compensator, suppressor, barrel tuner) with a barrel 12 that is otherwise not equipped with threads to accept such an accessory. In some embodiments, the second muzzle cap threaded portion 64 has ⅝″ 24 threads. The threads can be of any suitable size and pitch, for example ½″ 28. In some embodiments, a suitable accessory (e.g., flash hider, compensator, suppressor, barrel tuner) may be integrated with the muzzle cap 20, for example by forming the accessory and muzzle cap 20 out of a single piece of material.

In some instances, it may be desirable to remove the barrel device 14 from a barrel 12. Therefore, a disassembly tool 82, as shown in FIGS. 8-11, can be provided along with the barrel device 14 to assist in removing the barrel device 14 from the barrel 12. In some embodiments, a disassembly tool 82 is also provided to a consumer along with the barrel device 14 in order to assist with removing the barrel device 14 from the barrel 12. Once the barrel device 14 is installed, in the absence of the disassembly tool 82, it may be difficult to remove the barrel device 14.

In order to remove the barrel device 14, the muzzle cap 20 is first removed. Thereafter, the disassembly tool 82 is placed against the collet 24 as shown in FIG. 11. The muzzle cap 20 is then threaded on the main body 16. Applying torque to the muzzle cap 20 forces the disassembly tool 82 into the collet 24 and pushes the collet 24 away from the main body 16 enough to break loose the collet 24 from the main body 16. Once the collet 24 breaks loose, the muzzle cap 20 can be unthreaded from the main body 16 and the disassembly tool 82 and components of the barrel device 14 can be removed from the barrel 12.

In some embodiments, the disassembly tool 82 comprises a washer 82. In some embodiments, the muzzle cap 20 has a shoulder 84 (FIGS. 10 and 11) and the disassembly tool 82 has a counterbore 86. The shoulder 84 of the muzzle cap 20 and the counterbore 86 of the disassembly tool 82 mate together such that the disassembly tool 82 fits over the shoulder 84 of the muzzle cap 20.

Turning to FIG. 12, in some embodiments, the barrel device 14 comprises a hollow body 90. The hollow body 90 has an interior shape that is configured to match the profile of a distal portion 26 of the barrel 12. In some embodiments, the hollow body 90 is formed from a first material different from the material of the barrel 12. In some embodiments, the hollow body 90 is formed from a material that is the same as the material of the barrel 12. In some embodiments, the hollow body 90 is heated to a desired temperature and, due to thermal expansion, the interior of the hollow body increases in size. The barrel device 14 is then placed over the barrel 12 and allowed to cool. Upon cooling, the barrel device 14 shrinks and, importantly, the interior cross-sectional dimension of the hollow body 90 decreases and applies a compressive force to the distal portion of the barrel 12, thereby decreasing the diameter of the distal portion 26 of the barrel 12, including the barrel crown 28. In some embodiments, the diameter of the bore 30 is concomitantly reduced along the distal portion 26 (FIG. 1) of the barrel 12. In some embodiments, the diameter of the bore 30 is reduced along a length of the barrel that is at least two times the bullet diameter. For example, if the firearm utilizes a bullet that is 35 caliber (0.35″ inches in diameter), the barrel device 14 reduces the diameter of the bore 30 along a distal portion 26 of the barrel 12 that is at least 0.70″ in length, measured from the end of the barrel. In some embodiments, the hollow body 90 of the barrel device 14 is formed from steel or stainless steel such as 300 series stainless (e.g., 304 stainless steel) material, or other alloy, although other suitable materials can also be utilized. In some embodiments, the barrel device 14 shown in FIG. 12 has a ledge 92 (FIG. 13). The ledge 92 abuts the barrel crown 28 (FIG. 3) such that the barrel device 14 abuts the end of the barrel 12. In this way, locating the barrel device 14 is aided by positioning the barrel device 14 against the end of the barrel 12 upon assembly.

In some embodiments, the hollow body 90 is heated to a temperature of at least 800 degrees Celsius before it is placed over the barrel 12 and, in some embodiments, at least 1000 degrees Celsius. Upon cooling, in some embodiments, the hollow body 90 then shrinks to have an interference fit of 0.001″ - 0.01″ with the barrel 12, and in some embodiments, the interference fit of 0.003″ - 0.007″. The interference fit secures the hollow body 90 to the barrel 12, but does not result in yielding of the barrel 12 or hollow body 90.

In some embodiments, the hollow body 90 has a threaded portion to accept an accessory such as a suppressor, flash hider, muzzle brake, etc. Further, in some embodiments, the barrel 12 could be machined to reduce the outer diameter of the barrel 12, or change the shape of the barrel 12, so accommodate the hollow body 90. For example, an end portion of the barrel 12 could be machined in a lathe to reduce its wall thickness in order to achieve the desired interference fit or amount of compression. In some embodiments, it may be necessary to heat the hollow body 90 in an inert gas. Further, in some embodiments, induction heating could be used to heat the hollow body 90 to expand its size.