Free-floating barrel mounting system for firearm

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11143478-B2
Application number	US-201916376465-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 5, 2019
Priority date	Apr 5, 2019
Publication date	Oct 12, 2021
Grant date	Oct 12, 2021

Abstract

A barrel mounting system for a firearm includes a longitudinal axis, a receiver, and a barrel detachably coupled to the receiver by upper and lower barrel mounting features above and below the barrel bore centerline. The lower mounting feature may comprise a clamping block compressing a lower breech end portion of the barrel against the receiver. In one embodiment, a pair of lower securement fasteners extend through the clamping block and threadably engage the receiver to draw the block into engagement with the receiver. The upper mounting feature may comprise a securement fastener compressing an upper breech end portion of the barrel against the receiver. The upper and lower mounting features form a triangular bolting pattern and balance moment forces created by the compressive forces of coupling the barrel to receiver with the fasteners.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A free-floating barrel mounting system for a firearm comprising: a longitudinal axis;
a receiver;
a barrel detachably coupled to the receiver, the barrel comprising a front muzzle end, a rear breech end, and an internal bore defining a bore centerline and extending axially between the ends to define a projectile passageway;
a lower mounting feature below the bore centerline comprising a clamping block arranged in proximity to the breech end of the barrel, the clamping block configured to compress a lower portion of the breech end against a front face of the receiver;
a pair of spaced apart lower securement fasteners extending axially through the clamping block and threadably engaging the receiver;
an upper mounting feature vertically aligned above the bore centerline comprising an upper securement fastener configured to threadably engage the receiver and compress an upper portion of the breech end of the barrel against the front face of the receiver;
wherein moment forces created by the lower mounting feature are balanced by the upper mounting feature;
wherein the upper securement fastener compressively engages a forward facing upper bearing surface formed on a top center of the barrel adjacent the rear breech end to draw a rear face of the barrel against the front face of the receiver.

2. The barrel mounting system according to claim 1 , further comprising an axially elongated stock coupled to and supporting the receiver, wherein the barrel is not supported by the stock thereby defining a free-floating barrel system.

3. The barrel mounting system according to claim 1 , wherein the breech end of the barrel is cylindrical and insertably received in a complementary configured unthreaded barrel mounting hole in the front face of the receiver.

4. The barrel mounting system according to claim 1 , wherein the upper securement fastener includes an enlarged head which engages the upper bearing surface of the barrel.

5. The barrel mounting system according to claim 4 , wherein the upper bearing surface is formed within a securement recess in a top surface of the barrel, the head of the upper securement fastener received at least partially in the recess to engage the upper bearing surface.

6. The barrel mounting system according to claim 5 , further comprising an inclined lead-in chamfer adjoining the recess to facilitate entry of the head of the upper securement fastener into the recess.

7. The barrel mounting system according to claim 5 , wherein a threaded shank of the upper securement fastener remains outside of the recess and threadably engages a threaded axial bore in the front face of the receiver.

8. The barrel mounting system according to claim 1 , further comprising a rail section atop the receiver defining a forwardly open axial access hole, the upper securement fastener being received through the access hole and threadably engaging a threaded axial bore in the front face of the receiver.

9. The barrel mounting system according to claim 3 , further comprising an external shoulder formed between the cylindrical rear breech end of the barrel and a larger diameter forward portion of the barrel, the shoulder defining an annular rear face of the barrel which abuts the front face of the receiver around the barrel mounting hole.

10. The fife barrel mounting system according to claim 1 , wherein the lower mounting feature further comprises a pair of spaced apart lower securement fasteners extending axially through the clamping block which threadably engage the receiver.

11. The barrel mounting system according to claim 10 , wherein the receiver further comprises a lower forward extension having a truncated wedge end engaging a complementary configured V-shaped notch formed in the clamping block.

12. The barrel mounting system according to claim 11 , wherein V-shaped notch further engages a forward facing bearing surface on a bottom of the barrel.

13. The barrel mounting system according to claim 10 , wherein the lower securement fasteners and upper securement fastener define a triangular bolting pattern.

14. The barrel mounting system according to claim 1 , wherein the upper securement fastener is centered over the barrel and axially oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis.

15. A free-floating barrel mounting system for a firearm comprising:
a longitudinal axis;
a receiver defining a front face and a forward extension projecting axially from the front face;
a barrel comprising a front muzzle end, a rear breech end, and an internal bore defining a bore centerline and extending axially between the ends to define a projectile passageway;
the breech end of the barrel being cylindrical and received in an unthreaded barrel mounting hole in the front face of the receiver;
an external shoulder formed between the breech end and a portion of the barrel forward of the breech end, the shoulder defining an annular rear face abuttingly engaged with the front face of the receiver;
a clamping block arranged below the bore centerline and engaged with the forward extension of the receiver;
a pair of spaced apart lower securement fasteners extending axially through the clamping block and threadably engaging the forward extension of the receiver;
an upper securement fastener arranged above and vertically aligned with the bore centerline and threadably engaging an axial bore in the front face of the receiver, the upper securement fastener being symmetrically centered in lateral position between the lower securement fasteners;
a portion of the upper securement fastener abuttingly engaging a forward facing upper bearing surface formed on a top center of the barrel;
wherein tightening the upper securement fastener compresses the annular rear face of the barrel against the front face of the receiver;
wherein moment forces created by tightening the lower securement fasteners are balanced by the upper securement fastener.

16. The barrel mounting system according to claim 15 , wherein the upper securement fastener includes an enlarged head which directly engages the upper bearing surface of the barrel.

17. The barrel mounting system according to claim 16 , wherein the upper bearing surface is formed within a securement recess in a top surface of the barrel, the head of the upper securement fastener received at least partially in the recess to engage the upper bearing surface.

18. The barrel mounting system according to claim 17 , further comprising an inclined lead-in chamfer adjoining the recess to facilitate entry of the head of the upper securement fastener into the recess.

19. The barrel mounting system according to claim 17 , wherein a threaded shank of the upper securement fastener remains outside of the recess and threadably engages the threaded axial bore in the front face of the receiver.

20. The barrel mounting system according to claim 15 , wherein the forward extension comprises a truncated wedge end engaged with a complementary configured V-shaped notch formed in the clamping block.

21. The barrel mounting system according to claim 20 , wherein V-shaped notch defines an angled bearing surface which engages both the truncated wedge end of the forward extension and a forward facing bearing surface on a bottom of the barrel.

22. The barrel mounting system according to claim 10 , wherein the lower securement fasteners and upper securement fastener define a triangular bolting pattern.

23. A method for coupling a barrel to a receiver of a firearm,

Assignees

• Sturm Ruger & Comany Inc
• Sturm Ruger & Co

Inventors

• Downey Matthias
• Mather Jonathan Philip
• Taylor Adam Jay

Classifications

• F41A21/484

  using interlocking means, e.g. by sliding pins · CPC title

• F41A21/487

  using friction, e.g. by clamping a barrel surface · CPC title

• F41A21/485 Primary

  using screws or bolts · CPC title