초록 ▼

A chamber reinforcement for composite firearm barrel and method for forming the same. In one embodiment, the barrel includes an inner tube defining a bore that provides a bullet path and an outer sleeve preferably made of a material lighter in weight than the tube. In some embodiments, the inner tub

A chamber reinforcement for composite firearm barrel and method for forming the same. In one embodiment, the barrel includes an inner tube defining a bore that provides a bullet path and an outer sleeve preferably made of a material lighter in weight than the tube. In some embodiments, the inner tube is made of a material that preferably has a greater density and strength than the outer sleeve. The reinforcement in one embodiment may be in the form of an end cap disposed on a portion of the sleeve. The reinforcement preferably is made of a material comparable to the inner tube in density and strength to reinforce the area where a chamber is formed for receiving a cartridge. In the preferred fabrication, the reinforcement, tube, and sleeve are forged together to provide a strong and unitary structure for withstanding combustion pressures and forces associated with discharging the firearm.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A forged composite firearm barrel comprising: an inner tube having a longitudinally-extending bore and a first density;an outer sleeve having a second density less than the first density of the inner tube, at least part of the tube received in a passageway in the sleeve; anda cylindrically-shaped

1. A forged composite firearm barrel comprising: an inner tube having a longitudinally-extending bore and a first density;an outer sleeve having a second density less than the first density of the inner tube, at least part of the tube received in a passageway in the sleeve; anda cylindrically-shaped reinforcing member permanently bonded and joined to an outer surface of the sleeve;wherein the reinforcing member is configured as a cylindrical end cap adapted to be received onto or near a stepped rear end of the sleeve. 2. The barrel of claim 1, wherein the reinforcing member has a cavity and at least part of the outer sleeve is received in the cavity. 3. The barrel of claim 2, wherein at least part of the inner tube extends into and is also received in the cavity. 4. The barrel of claim 2, wherein the cavity of the reinforcing member includes a plurality of recesses that contain material embedded therein from an outer surface of the outer sleeve to prevent axial separation of the reinforcing member and outer sleeve during discharging of the firearm, the recesses being operative to permanently bond the reinforcing member and the outer sleeve together. 5. The barrel of claim 1, wherein the reinforcing member is permanently bonded to portions of both the outer sleeve and the inner tube. 6. The barrel of claim 1, wherein the reinforcing member has a third density greater than the second density of the sleeve. 7. The barrel of claim 1, wherein the reinforcing member has a third density that is substantially the same as or greater than the first density of the inner tube. 8. The barrel of claim 1, further comprising a cartridge chamber formed inside the reinforcing member for supporting the chamber during discharge of the firearm. 9. The barrel of claim 1, wherein the inner tube, outer sleeve, and reinforcing member are permanently joined together by hammer forging. 10. The barrel of claim 1, wherein the reinforcing member is made of steel or steel alloy. 11. The barrel of claim 1, wherein the inner tube and reinforcing member are made of a material selected from the group consisting of steel and steel alloy, and the outer sleeve contains a material selected from the group consisting of aluminum, aluminum-alloy, titanium, and titanium-alloy. 12. A forged composite firearm barrel comprising: an inner tube having a longitudinally-extending bore and a first density;an outer sleeve having a second density less than the first density of the inner tube, at least part of the tube received in a passageway in the sleeve;a cylindrically-shaped reinforcing member permanently bonded and joined to an outer surface of the sleeve; anda cartridge chamber formed inside the reinforcing member for supporting the chamber during discharge of the firearm;wherein the chamber has a length and the reinforcing member has a length at least coextensive with the length of the chamber. 13. A forged composite firearm barrel with a reinforced chamber comprising: an inner tube having a longitudinally-extending bore and a first density;an outer sleeve having a second density less than the first density of the inner tube, the outer sleeve receiving at least part of the inner tube therein;a cylindrically shaped hollow reinforcing member disposed on the sleeve and having a third density greater than the second density of the outer sleeve; anda chamber configured for receiving a cartridge and being disposed at least partially inside the reinforcing member for supporting the chamber during discharge of the firearm;wherein the inner tube, outer sleeve, and reinforcing member are permanently bonded and joined together via a plurality of helical grooves formed on both the tube and reinforcing member, the grooves containing material embedded therein from the outer sleeve to prevent axial separation of the reinforcing member, inner tube, and outer sleeve during discharging of the firearm. 14. The barrel of claim 13, wherein at least part of the chamber is formed within the inner tube, a portion of the inner tube being disposed between the chamber and the reinforcing member. 15. The barrel of claim 13, wherein at least a portion of the outer sleeve lies adjacent to at least part of chamber, wherein the portion of the outer sleeve adjacent to the chamber is supported by the reinforcing member. 16. The barrel of claim 13, wherein the reinforcing member includes an internal cavity receiving a stepped end of the outer sleeve therein, the cavity defining an internal surface comprising the helical recesses that contain the embedded material from the outer sleeve. 17. The barrel of claim 13, wherein the reinforcing member has a cylindrically-shaped reduced diameter portion for mounting the barrel to the firearm. 18. The barrel of claim 13, wherein the chamber has a length and the reinforcing member has a length at least coextensive with a length of the chamber. 19. A reinforced composite firearm barrel formed by forging, the barrel comprising: an inner tube defining a central bore providing a bullet path and including an exterior surface having a plurality of recesses for bonding to the sleeve;an outer sleeve defining a passageway and the inner tube received at least partially in the passageway;a cylindrically-shaped reinforcing member defining an internal cavity and at least partially receiving a portion of the sleeve therein, the cavity including a plurality of recesses for bonding to the sleeve;a chamber for receiving a cartridge and being disposed at least partially within the reinforcing member for strengthening the chamber;wherein the inner tube and reinforcing member have a density greater than the density of the sleeve and are each permanently bonded to the sleeve by the recesses in the inner tube and reinforcing member wherein material from the outer sleeve is received and embedded in the recesses to prevent axial separation of the reinforcing member, the inner tube, and the outer sleeve during discharging of the firearm. 20. The barrel of claim 19, wherein the internal cavity extends completely through the reinforcing member from end to end. 21. The barrel of claim 20, wherein the internal cavity of the reinforcing member has an enlarged portion having a first diameter and a reduced portion having a second diameter smaller than the first diameter, and a shoulder formed between the enlarged and reduced diameter portions. 22. The barrel of claim 21, wherein the outer sleeve has a reduced diameter portion having a rear end that is received into the enlarged portion of the reinforcing member. 23. The barrel of claim 19, wherein the inner tube extends beyond a rear end of the outer sleeve into the cavity of the reinforcing member. 24. The barrel of claim 19, wherein the reinforcing member has a cylindrically-shaped reduced diameter rear portion for mounting the barrel to the firearm.