Regulator for a firearm auto loader

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10222151-B2
Application number	US-201715619686-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 12, 2017
Priority date	Jan 13, 2015
Publication date	Mar 5, 2019
Grant date	Mar 5, 2019

Abstract

A regulator that controls an amount of energy provided to an auto loader for rounds having different gun powder loads is provided. The regulator includes a chamber, and a piston in fluid communication with the chamber. The regulator may further include a throttling valve having a first position in which pressurized combustion gas from the gas port of a barrel of a firearm can flow into the chamber, and a second position in which pressurized combustion gas from the gas port of a barrel of a firearm cannot flow into the chamber. The throttling valve is configured to move from the first position to the second position when pressure in the chamber exceeds a threshold level. The regulator may include an expansion valve in fluid communication with the chamber and arranged to move from a first position to increase a volume of the chamber when pressure in the chamber exceeds a threshold level. The regulator may include a valve including a vent hole, where the valve is in fluid communication with the chamber and is arranged to vent combustion gas from the chamber through the vent hole.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An autoloader for a gas operated automated firearm, comprising:
a gas chamber including an inner diameter and constructed and arranged to receive pressurized combustion gas from a gas port of a barrel of the firearm when a round is fired from the firearm;
a piston having a piston head in fluid communication with said gas chamber, said piston constructed and arranged to move away from a firing position to actuate at least a portion of a cycle of the firearm when urged by pressurized combustion gas received in said gas chamber; and
an expansion valve disposed within the gas chamber, the expansion valve constructed and arranged to move along the inner diameter of the gas chamber from a firing position to increase a volume of said gas chamber when pressure in the gas chamber exceeds a threshold level.

2. The autoloader of claim 1 , wherein said expansion valve is constructed and arranged to prevent combustion gas from escaping from said regulator to an ambient environment other than through the barrel of the firearm.

3. The autoloader of claim 2 , wherein a blowby vent provides a vent for combustion gas that escapes from the gas chamber by the expansion valve.

4. The autoloader of claim 1 , wherein said expansion valve is urged toward the firing position by a biasing element.

5. The autoloader of claim 1 , wherein a positive stop limits movement of the expansion valve beyond a maximum amount of travel away from the firing position.

6. The autoloader of claim 1 , wherein a throttle reduces flow of pressurized combustion gas to said gas chamber after said expansion valve moves from said firing position.

7. A regulator for a gas operated automated firearm, comprising:
a gas chamber constructed and arranged to receive pressurized combustion gas from a gas port of a barrel of the firearm when a round is fired from the firearm;
a piston having a piston head in fluid communication with said gas chamber, said piston constructed and arranged to move away from a firing position to actuate at least a portion of a cycle of the firearm when urged by pressurized combustion gas received in said gas chamber;
an expansion valve in fluid communication with said gas chamber and constructed and arranged to move from a firing position to increase a volume of said gas chamber when pressure in the gas chamber exceeds a threshold level; and
a throttle constructed to reduce flow of pressurized combustion gas to said gas chamber after said expansion valve moves from said firing position, wherein said throttle includes an outer surface of said expansion valve that at least partially closes said gas port when the expansion valve is moved from the firing position.

8. The regulator of claim 7 , wherein said expansion valve includes an opening in a face of said expansion valve that is in fluid communication with said gas port when said expansion valve is in the firing position.

9. The regulator of claim 8 , wherein said expansion valve includes an annular recess that provides fluid communication between said gas port and said opening in a face of said expansion valve.

10. An autoloader for a gas operated automated firearm, comprising:
a gas chamber having an intake that receives pressurized combustion gas from a gas port of a barrel of the firearm when a round is fired;
a piston having a piston head in fluid communication with said gas chamber, said piston constructed and arranged to move a bolt carrier of the firearm by pressurized combustion gas in said gas chamber to actuate at least a portion of an automated cycle of the firearm; and
a valve disposed within the autoloader, the valve including a valve seat, a valve stem, and a vent hole, wherein said combustion gas from the gas chamber moves the valve stem away from the valve seat so that the vent hole is in fluid communication with said gas chamber to vent combustion gas from said gas chamber through said vent hole.

11. The autoloader of claim 10 , wherein said valve includes a biasing element, said biasing element constructed and arranged to urge the valve stem to close the vent hole.

12. The autoloader of claim 11 , wherein said valve includes an adjustment mechanism to adjust preload on Belleville washers, wherein the adjustment mechanism is internal to the valve.

13. The autoloader of claim 10 , wherein said valve is constructed and arranged to prevent combustion gas from venting through said vent hole for gas pressures below 3000 psi in said gas chamber.

14. The autoloader of claim 10 , wherein said valve is constructed and arranged to prevent combustion gas from venting through said vent hole when low load rounds are fired from the firearm.

15. The autoloader of claim 10 , constructed and arranged to accommodate gas pressures that range between 3000 psi and 5000 psi.

16. The autoloader of claim 10 , operable for low load round and high load rounds without operator intervention to adjust said regulator.

17. A method of regulating gas pressure in gas operated automated firearm, the firearm including a bolt carrier and an autoloader, the autoloader defining a gas chamber and including a piston and a regulator, and the regulator including a valve stem, a valve seat, and a vent hole, the method comprising:
receiving pressurized combustion gas in a gas chamber of the regulator upon firing of a firearm;
moving the bolt carrier by urging the piston with the pressurized combustion gas in the gas chamber; and
venting combustion gas from the gas chamber through the vent hole in response to movement of the valve stem away from the valve seat when pressure in the gas chamber exceeds a set point.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein moving the bolt carrier of the firearm includes moving the bolt carrier at velocities less than 400 inches per second by venting combustion gas from the gas chamber through the vent hole.

19. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
preventing venting of combustion gas from the gas chamber when gas pressure in the gas chamber is less than a set point, wherein the set point is gas pressure sufficient to overcome a force applied by a biasing element to the valve stem.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the set point is 3000 psi or greater.

Assignees

• Sig Sauer Inc

Inventors

• Daley Jr William C
• Wilkes David Michael
• Aubin Douglas
• Steimke David

Classifications

• F41A5/26 Primary

  Arrangements or systems for bleeding the gas from the barrel (F41A5/20 - F41A5/24 take precedence) · CPC title