초록 ▼

A composite/metallic gun barrel is disclosed having a metallic liner and alternating first and second groups of fibers wrapped about the liner, the first groups being disposed in a first orientation generally perpendicular to the long axis of the liner, and the second groups including one or more la

A composite/metallic gun barrel is disclosed having a metallic liner and alternating first and second groups of fibers wrapped about the liner, the first groups being disposed in a first orientation generally perpendicular to the long axis of the liner, and the second groups including one or more layers disposed generally parallel with the long axis of the metallic liner. By controlling the amount of fibers in each group relative to the other group, the coefficients of thermal expansion in the radial direction can be regulated to provide a gun barrel having desired firing characteristics.

대표청구항 ▼

A method for reducing barrel weight in a firearm, while at the same time enhancing predictability in barrel performance despite changing temperatures during firing, said method comprising: a) forming a barrel with a metallic liner having an exterior surface and an interior surface configured for fir

A method for reducing barrel weight in a firearm, while at the same time enhancing predictability in barrel performance despite changing temperatures during firing, said method comprising: a) forming a barrel with a metallic liner having an exterior surface and an interior surface configured for firing a projectile, the metallic liner having a known coefficient of thermal expansion in an axial direction and in a radial direction; b) applying multiple layers of reinforcing fiber in predetermined orientations along the exterior surface of the metallic liner in combination with thermosetting resin to form a surrounding composite shell which, subsequent to cure, develops: i) a substantially zero coefficient of expansion in the axial direction of the barrel in the composite in response to changes from ambient temperature due to heating of the barrel during firing of the firearm; and ii) a coefficient of expansion in the radial direction which is sufficiently less than the coefficient of thermal expansion of the metallic liner in the radial direction to impose a restrictive force on expansion of the metallic liner in the radial direction by lesser expansion by the composite; and c) curing said composite to a final condition wherein thermal elongation changes in the barrel are uniform along axial and radial aspects of the barrel.