Abstract:
An electric charging system for a firearm includes a port in operable communication with a chamber adapted to receive an amount of expanding gas created by an ignited charge, and a cavity in operable communication with the port and adapted to receive an amount of the expanding gas therefrom. The charging system also includes a charging assembly in operable communication with the cavity, wherein the charging assembly creates an electric charge when impinged by the expanding gas located within the cavity, and a conductor in electrical communication with the charging assembly, wherein the conductor receives the electrical charge from the charging assembly. The charging system further includes a power storage unit in electrical communication with the conductor, wherein the storage unit stores the electrical charge received from the conductor.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a firearm containing a power storage unit therein, and in particular to a charging system for charging the power storage unit located within the firearm. 
     Semiautomatic and automatic firearms typically include a bolt assembly that includes things such as a bolt carrier, bolt extractor, ejector, firing pin, etc. Upon firing of the associated firearm, a portion of the expanding gas following a projectile down the barrel is directed back to the bolt assembly, thereby providing the force required to eject a spent shell casing from the firing chamber of the associated firearm and replace the spent cartridge with a new shell. Other firearms such as bolt action and single-shot firearms also generate such force, however, these types of firearms do not utilize direct forces for purposes of unloading and loading. 
     Numerous kinds of powered scopes are utilized with the modern firearms of today, including infrared scopes, heat-sensing scopes, laser/range finding scopes and “night-vision” scopes. Each of the powered scopes requires that a power source be located within the firearm or carried externally by the user. If these scopes are used for an extended period of time, replacement power units must be provided and/or recharging facilities must be located. Drawbacks to non-rechargeable sources include requiring the operator to carry replacement power sources such as batteries, while rechargeable sources requires the user to find a power source which may not be available. 
     Therefore, it would be advantageous to develop an electric charging system that utilizes the force generated by the firing of an associated firearm to charge a power storage unit located within the firearm. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     One aspect of the present invention is to provide an electric charging system for a firearm that includes a port in operable communication with a chamber adapted to receive an amount of expanding gas created by an ignited charge. 
     Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a firearm including a power charging system, the firearm including a bolt assembly and a barrel having an internal bore and operably connected to the bolt assembly. The firearm also includes a port in operable communication with the bore, the bore adapted to receive an amount of expanding gas created by an ignited charge, and a cavity in operable communication with the port and adapted to receive an amount of expanding gas therefrom. The charging system also includes a charging assembly in operable communication with the cavity, wherein the charging assembly creates an electric charge when impinged by the expanding gas located within the cavity, and a conductor in electrical communication with the charging assembly, wherein the conductor receives the electric charge from the charging assembly. The charging system further includes a power storage unit in electrical communication with the conductor, wherein the storage unit stores the electrical charge received from the conductor 
     Yet another aspect of the present invention is to provide an improvement to a firearm that includes a bolt assembly, a barrel in operable communication with the bolt assembly, and having an internal bore, a gas tube in fluid communication with the internal bore of the barrel and the bolt assembly, wherein the gas tube is adapted to receive an amount of expanding gas from the barrel as created by an ignited charge. The improvement includes a port in fluid communication with the internal bore of the barrel and adapted to receive an amount of the expanding gas created by the ignited charge, and a cavity in fluid communication with the port and adapted to receive an amount of the expanding gas therefrom. The improvement also includes a charging assembly in operable communication with the cavity, wherein the charging assembly creates an electric charge when impinged on by the expanding gas located within the cavity, and a power storage unit in electrical communication with the charging assembly and adapted to store the electrical charge created by the charging assembly. 
     The present inventive charging system provides a standardized power source that may be utilized within numerous weapon systems, eliminates the requirement of the user carrying reserve power sources, eliminates the necessity of replacing expired power sources, and provides a multi-function power supply that is rugged, reliable, and lightweight. The charging system further provides a rechargeable power storage unit that is readily adaptable to existing weapon systems, is applicable to all gas operated, or ported barrel weapons, and is particularly well adapted for the proposed use. 
     These and other advantages of the invention will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art by reference to the following written specification, claims, and appended drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a partial schematic side elevational view of a prior art firearm, including a front hand guard assembly, a barrel, a gas block, and a gas tube; 
     FIG. 2 is a partial schematic, partial cross-sectional exploded side elevational view of the charging system; 
     FIG. 3 is a partial schematic side elevational view of a firearm assembly with an electric charging system embodying the present invention; and 
     FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a power charging circuit. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     For purposed of description herein, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “right,” “left,” “rear,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in FIG.  1 . However, it is to be understood that the invention may assume various alternative orientations and step sequences, except where expressly specified to the contrary. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification are exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise. 
     The reference numeral  10  (FIG. 1) generally designates a typical semiautomatic or automatic firearm assembly. It should be noted that while the present invention is described with respect to semi-automatic and automatic firearms, the charging system may also be utilized within other types of firearms including, but in no way limited to, bolt action and single shot firearms. Firearm assembly  10  includes a bolt or breaching assembly  12  (shown schematically) that includes things such as a bolt carrier (not shown), bolt extractor (not shown), ejector (not shown), firing pin (not shown), firing chamber (not shown), and the like typically associated with semiautomatic and automatic firearms. Firearm assembly  10  further includes a barrel  14  fixedly attached with bolt assembly  12  and having an internal bore  16  in operable communication with the firing chamber (not shown). Firearm assembly  10  further includes a gas block  18  fixedly attached with firearm  10  and having a gas exhaust hole or gas port  20  in fluid communication with internal bore  16  of barrel  14 . A gas tube  22  extends between gas block  18  and bolt assembly  12 . An internal passage  24  located within gas tube  22  provides fluid communication between gas port  20  and bolt assembly  12  as is well known in the art. 
     The reference number  26  (FIGS. 2 and 3) generally designates an electric charging system  26  embodying the present invention. In the illustrated example, the gas block  18  of firearm assembly  10  is replaced with a sight/gas block  28 . The sight/gas block  28  includes an internal passage  30  that provides fluid communication between internal passage  24  of gas tube  22  and a conically shaped cavity  32  located within sight/gas block  28 . Cavity  32  opens into and is in fluid communication with a tubular shaped cavity  34  having a first end  36  and a second end  38  that defines a circularly shaped aperture within sight/gas block  28 . It should be noted that while cavities  32  and  34  are described herein as having particular geometrical shapes, other shapes may be utilized. An access plug  35  is threadably engaged within a threaded access aperture  37  located within sight/gas block  28 . Aperture  37  provides access to cavity  32  allowing cleaning thereof. Cavity  34  further includes a snap-ring groove  40  that divides cavity  34  into a first portion  42  and second portion  44 . 
     The charging system  26  further includes a pressure diagram  46  having a thick outer ring  48  circumferentially extending about a thin interior baffle  50 . Diagram  46  is preferably constructed of steel, however, other suitable materials may be utilized. Charging system  26  further includes a steel spring washer  49  having an outer diameter that is slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the interior baffle  50  of diagram  46 . 
     The charging system  26  further includes a plurality of piezo electric crystals  52  that provide an electric charge when under compression. A conductor element  54  abuts crystals  52  and is in electrical communication therewith. Conductor element  54  includes an electrode  56 . A cup-shaped insulator cap  58  is configured to receive conductor  54  and crystals  52  within an interior  60  thereof. Cap  58  also includes an end wall  62  having a centrally located aperture  64  extending therethrough. Electric charging system  28  further includes an electrical lead wire  66  having an electrode  68  connected thereto and in electrical communication therewith. Electrode  68  is adapted to electrically and physically connect with electrode  56  of conductor element  54 . Lead wire  66  is in electrical communication with a power storage unit  70 . 
     In the illustrated example, the power storage unit  70  (FIG. 4) includes a rechargeable battery pack  72  and a power charging circuit  93 . Power charging circuit  93  includes a bridge rectifier circuit  94 , a capacitor  96 , a current limiter  98 , and a voltage monitor  100 . Specifically, the voltage and associated current traveling in a direction indicated by arrow  101  generated by the crystals  53  is first directed to bridge rectifier circuit  94  which rectifies the polarity of the current from crystals  53 , thereby delivering the same polarity to the battery  72  at all times of compression and decompression of crystals  53 . Capacitor  96  then receives the rectified current from rectifier circuit  94 . In the illustrated example, capacitor  96  is adapted to withstand high voltages, and shields battery  72  from directly receiving such voltages which may damage battery  72 . The voltage is then delivered to the constant current or current limiting circuit  98 , thereby effectively shielding battery  72  from a high voltage output from crystals  53 . Voltage monitor  100  prevents an overcharge of battery  72 . As illustrated in FIG. 4, battery  72  is in electrical communication with any such device  102  within firearm assembly  10  requiring power. Power storage unit  70  is shown within bolt assembly  12  for illustration purposes only, and may be located at any location within the firearm providing adequate space or within an external unit carried by the operator. 
     In assembly, diaphragm  46  is held within first portion  42  of cavity  34  by a snap ring  74  that is adapted to be snappingly received within snap ring groove  40 . Cap  58  is placed within second portion  44  of cavity  34  and houses insulator  54  and crystals  52  therein. When assembled, an end face  76  of cap  58  abuts snap ring  74  and spring washer  49  is frictionally held between crystals  52  and interior baffle  50  of diaphragm  46 . Cup  58  is held within second portion  44  of cavity  34  by a threaded end cover  78  that is threadably received within a plurality of threads  80  extending inwardly from second end  38  of cavity  34 . End cover  78  includes a centrally located aperture  82  for receiving lead wire  66  therethrough and a centrally located threaded aperture  84 . A tube connector  86  is threadably connected within aperture  84  of end cover  78  via a plurality of threads  88 . A centrally located aperture  90  extends through tube connector  84  and is adapted to receive an outer tube  92  therein. Outer tube  92  surrounds lead wire  66  and is adapted to protect the same. Lead wire  66  extends through outer tube  92 , aperture  82  of end cover  78  and aperture  64  of cap  58 , where electrode  68  is physically connected with electrode  56  of conductor element  54 . 
     In operation, the power storage unit  70  is provided with an electrical charge each and every time the associated firearm is fired. Specifically, a portion of the expanding gases caused by the ignition of the propellant of a shell located within the firing chamber of the associated firearm is ported from internal bore  16  of barrel  14  via gas port  20  and internal passage  30  to cavity  32 . The expanding gas within cavity  32  impinges and places pressure upon interior baffle  50  of diaphragm  46  causing interior baffle  50  to flex away from cavity  32  and into cavity  34 . As interior baffle  50  of diaphragm  46  flexes into cavity  34  a pressure is placed upon spring washer  49 , which is in turn placed upon crystal  52 , thereby compressing crystals  52  between spring washer  49  and end wall  62  of cap  58 . The crystals  52  create an electrical charge when under compression, which is in turn conducted to conductor element  54 . The electrical charge is then transmitted via electrode  56  of conductor element  54  to electrode  68  of wire  66 , and is in turn conducted to power storage unit  70 , thereby recharging power unit  70 . 
     The charging system  26  as disclosed herein may be used in conjunction with numerous attachments used in association with firearms, including but in no way limited to, infrared scopes, heat vision scopes, laser scopes, night vision scopes, range find equipment, charge ignition systems, directional finding equipment and the like. 
     The charging system  26  provides a standardized power source that can be used within numerous kinds and types of firearms, and eliminates the necessity of the user to carry back up battery, thereby resulting in lighter loads and greater liability. The charging system  26  also eliminates the requirement of changing batteries or power units, provides a multifunction power supply that is rugged, reliable and lightweight and extends the life expectancy of existing equipment. The charging system  26  further extends the operational limits of the associated weapon system that would limit access to replace power storage units, may be readily adapted to existing weapon systems and is applicable to all gas operated, or ported barrel weapons. 
     In the foregoing description, it will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art that modifications may be made to the invention without departing from the concepts disclosed herein. Such modifications are to be considered as included in the following claims, unless these claims by their language expressly state otherwise.