# US 2017/0284758 A9 · Metal-Metal-Matrix Composite Barrels

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- Number: US 2017/0284758 A9
- Document ID: US20170284758A9
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A9
- Application number: 14/579,584
- Filed: 2014-12-22
- Published: 2017-10-05
- Earliest claimed: 2014-04-25
- Inventors: Anja Glisovic; Joshua Neill Gravely; Steve Franklin Gravely
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170284758A9

## CPC

- F41A 21/02: Composite barrels, i.e. barrels having multiple layers, e.g. of different materials
- F41A 21/20: Barrels or gun tubes characterised by the material (F41A21/02 takes precedence)
- F41A 21/24: Barrels or gun tubes with fins or ribs, e.g. for cooling (F41G1/42 takes precedence)
- F41A: FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS COMMON TO BOTH SMALLARMS AND ORDNANCE, e.g. CANNONS; MOUNTINGS FOR SMALLARMS OR ORDNANCE

## Abstract

The invention is directed to the construction of weapon barrels from a steel core and at least one metal-matrix material sleeve, forming a composite metal-metal-matrix barrel which are applicable in rifles, shotguns, cannons, and mortars. Due to the properties of the metal-matrix materials (e.g. higher specific strength, higher specific heat capacity and lower density), the composite barrels can exhibit a higher rate of fire, reduced weight, improved accuracy, or a combination of any of these properties. Disclosed are various exemplary embodiments of such barrels with improved performance, properties of the metal-matrix materials necessary to allow these improvements as well as methods to produce the same.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A weapon barrel having a barrel core composed of iron or nickel alloy and at least one barrel jacket made from a metal-matrix material encasing the barrel core, thereby forming a metal-metal-matrix composite barrel.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The weapon barrel of claim 1, wherein the metal matrix material has a specific tensile strength that is greater than or equal to 80 N·m/g and greater than or equal to the specific tensile strength of the barrel's core material.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The weapon barrel of claim 1, wherein the metal matrix material comprises a metal selected from the group consisting of aluminum, titanium, beryllium and magnesium alloys, and composites, and a filler material selected from the group consisting of carbon nanotubes, graphite, diamond, carbides, and nitrides.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The weapon barrel of claim 1, wherein the metal matrix material comprises a material having a linear thermal expansion coefficient between 0 and 30 ppm/K.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The weapon barrel of claim 1, wherein the metal matrix material comprises a material having thermal conductivity between 5 to 400 W/m·K.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The weapon barrel of claim 1, wherein the metal matrix material comprises a material having a specific heat capacity greater than 0.45 J/g·K.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The weapon barrel of claim 1, wherein the at least one barrel jacket extends over at least 30% of the weapon barrel.

### Claim 8

(canceled)

### Claim 9

(canceled)

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The weapon barrel of claim 1 comprising a portion of a weapon, the weapon being selected from the group consisting of a rifle, a shotgun, a cannon, and a mortar.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The weapon barrel of claim 1, wherein at least one barrel jacket is adhered to the barrel core by an interference fit which is bearing in the operational temperature range of the weapon.

### Claim 12

(canceled)

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The weapon barrel of claim 1, wherein the weapon barrel comprises a fluted surface.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The weapon barrel of claim 1, wherein the weapon barrel comprises a variable diameter.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The weapon barrel of claim 1 comprising a portion of a weapon, the weapon being selected from the group consisting of a semi-automatic weapon and an automatic weapon.