Hybrid carbon-steel firearm barrel
AssigneeBlackpowder Products, Inc.
InventorsTod D. Boretto, Daniel J. Hanus, Brady E. Sandercock, Ion Racionero
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A hybrid metal and composite barrel assembly for a firearm preferably includes a metal inner barrel liner and a composite outer barrel sleeve. The composite outer barrel sleeve preferably includes at least one layer of woven metal mesh material comprising a plurality of metallic fibers, and at least one layer of carbon fiber material comprising a plurality of carbon fibers. The composite outer barrel sleeve is preferably engaged around the metal inner barrel liner, and optionally incorporates a tensioning nut to retain the sleeve on the liner.
Claims23
A firearm comprising a hybrid composite/steel barrel, the barrel further comprising:
- a metal inner barrel liner;
- and
- a composite outer barrel sleeve, the composite outer barrel sleeve comprising carbon fibers;
- wherein the metal inner barrel liner has an external taper from a larger breech end dimension to a smaller muzzle end dimension, and wherein the composite outer barrel sleeve has an internal taper configured to generally match the external taper of the inner barrel liner and fit in close engagement therewith when assembled, and wherein the composite outer barrel sleeve is adhesively bonded to the metal inner barrel liner;
- and
- wherein the metal inner barrel liner comprises a first thread profile at a muzzle end thereof, and wherein the barrel further comprises a tensioning nut having a second thread profile configured for cooperative engagement with the first thread profile, to engage the composite outer barrel sleeve onto the inner barrel liner.
A firearm comprising a hybrid composite/steel barrel, the barrel further comprising:
- a metal inner barrel liner;
- and
- a composite outer barrel sleeve, the composite outer barrel sleeve comprising carbon fibers;
- wherein the metal inner barrel liner has an external taper from a larger breech end dimension to a smaller muzzle end dimension, and wherein the composite outer barrel sleeve has an internal taper configured to generally match the external taper of the inner barrel liner and fit in close engagement therewith when assembled, and wherein the composite outer barrel sleeve is adhesively bonded to the metal inner barrel liner;
- and
- wherein the composite outer barrel sleeve comprises at least one layer of carbon fiber material comprising the carbon fibers;
- and at least one layer of woven metal mesh material comprising metallic fibers.
A firearm barrel comprising:
- a metal inner barrel liner;
- and
- a composite outer barrel sleeve, the composite outer barrel sleeve comprising carbon fibers;
- wherein the metal inner barrel liner has an external taper from a larger breech end dimension to a smaller muzzle end dimension, and wherein the composite outer barrel sleeve has an internal taper configured to generally match the external taper of the inner barrel liner and fit in close engagement therewith when assembled, and wherein the composite outer barrel sleeve is adhesively bonded to the metal inner barrel liner;
- and
- wherein the metal inner barrel liner comprises a first thread profile at a muzzle end thereof, and wherein the firearm barrel further comprises a tensioning nut having a second thread profile configured for cooperative engagement with the first thread profile, to engage the composite outer barrel sleeve onto the inner barrel liner.
A method of fabricating a firearm barrel, the method comprising:
- providing a metal inner barrel liner having an external taper from a larger breech end dimension to a smaller muzzle end dimension;
- providing a composite outer barrel sleeve having an internal taper configured to generally match the external taper of the inner barrel liner;
- and
- assembling the composite outer barrel sleeve over the metal inner barrel liner with the internal taper of the composite outer barrel sleeve fitting in close engagement with the external taper of the metal inner barrel liner
- wherein the metal inner barrel liner comprises a first thread profile at a muzzle end thereof, the method further comprising:
- providing a tensioning nut having a second thread profile configured for cooperative engagement with the first thread profile;
- and
- tightening the second thread profile of the tensioning nut onto the first thread profile of the metal inner barrel liner to place the inner barrel liner in tension and the composite outer barrel sleeve in compression.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.