Firearm barrel cleaning system

The firearm barrel cleaning system selectively cycles a stream of ultrasonic cleaning fluid through the barrel of a firearm, and further selectively ultrasonically induces cavitation within the cleaning fluid in the barrel for ultrasonic cleaning. The firearm barrel cleaning system includes a receiver assembly having a first end adapted for receiving the stream of cleaning fluid and a second end is adapted for insertion into the firearm receiver and sealing against a first end of the barrel to eject the stream of cleaning fluid into the barrel. A cap structure, having an outlet hose connector is clamped over the muzzle end of the barrel of the firearm. A pump selectively circulates the cleaning fluid through the receiver assembly, the barrel and out through the cap structure. An ultrasonic transducer is mounted on the receiver assembly for selectively inducing cavitation in the cleaning fluid.

BACKGROUND

The disclosure of the present patent application relates to firearm accessories, and particularly to a firearm barrel cleaning system that uses an ultrasonic cleaning system for cleaning the barrel of a firearm.

2. Description of the Related Art

Firearm operation involves ignition of an explosive charge within the firearm chamber, followed by the exit from the chamber of a projectile at high speed, which passes through and exits the barrel of the firearm. The explosive process inherent in firearms results in the accumulation of debris and residue within the chamber and barrel. Modern firearms have spiral or helical grooves (referred to as rifling) in the bore of barrel of the firearm to improve the range and accuracy of the shell. The accumulation of such debris and residue from expended shells can inhibit proper operation of the firearm, including misfires, damage to the firearm, possible injury to the user, and deterioration of the range and accuracy of the weapon. Thus, regular cleaning is always recommended to the owners and operators of firearms.

Conventional cleaning is typically performed as a manual process involving breaking down of the firearm, followed by rubbing a cleaning patch saturated with an appropriate solvent against the various surfaces of the firearm. After use, the patches are then discarded, which presents difficulties in disposal, since the dirty patches typically contain both lead and often toxic cleaning solvents. Further, while cleaning the barrel, the cleaning patch is typically driven down the barrel by a rod, to be rubbed against the barrel walls, which can be extremely difficult to manipulate, and in some cases, can cause the patch to become lodged or packed within the barrel.

As mentioned above, rifle and pistol barrels include “rifling”, which is, typically, five or six grooves spiraling down the barrel interior to spin-stabilize the bullet after it is fired from the cartridge and accelerates down the barrel. These groove areas are most prone to powder residue and fouling. Some types of fouling, such as copper from jacketed bullets, are difficult to remove, even with strong solvents, and some types of conventional cleaning solutions can damage the barrel itself. As discussed above, cleaning is typically performed by running a patch through the barrel with a jag on a cleaning rod. This may be replaced by, or used in combination with, the similar process of using a conventional bore brush with a cleaning fluid. When the patch runs through the barrel with little or no discoloration, the firearm is considered clean and a final lubricating patch is run through to prevent barrel corrosion. However, due to the difficulty inherent in cleaning the rifling of the barrel, cleaning with the patch and/or a bore brush may require up to an hour or more of repeated manual cleaning to fully clean the barrel. Even then, the barrel may not be fully clean, as a “clean” patch may simply indicate that the patch and/or brush, along with the selected cleaning fluid, have performed to the level of their abilities, rather than the barrel being completely clean. Thus, a firearm barrel cleaning system solving the aforementioned problems is desired.

SUMMARY

The firearm barrel cleaning system selectively cycles a stream of ultrasonic cleaning fluid through the barrel of a firearm, such as the barrel of a rifle or a revolver, and periodically pauses fluid flow and activates an ultrasonic transducer to induce cavitation within the cleaning fluid in the barrel for ultrasonic cleaning of the interior of the barrel. An embodiment of the firearm barrel cleaning system for use with a rifle having a bolt includes a receiver assembly having opposed first and second ends, the first end being adapted for receiving the stream of cleaning fluid, and the second end being adapted for insertion into the rifle receiver after removal of the bolt to bias a nozzle against the bore defined in the barrel of the firearm to eject the stream of cleaning fluid within the barrel.

A cap structure having a hose connector is adapted for releasably sealing the muzzle end of the barrel of the firearm to seal the cleaning fluid in the barrel during the ultrasonic cleaning cycle(s). A pump selectively circulates the cleaning fluid through the receiver assembly, the barrel, and out through the hose connector of the cap structure. An ultrasonic transducer is mounted on the receiver assembly for selectively inducing cavitation in the cleaning fluid when fluid flow is paused.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As shown inFIG. 1, an embodiment of the firearm barrel cleaning system10for cleaning a rifle having a bolt includes a receiver assembly12adapted for insertion into the receiver of the rifle after removal of the bolt, the assembly12having an interchangeable nozzle112adapted for being sealed against the opening of the rifle bore defined in the barrel B of the firearm F by a spring-loaded housing assembly having a handle114cooperating with the rifle receiver, and a cap structure for sealing the muzzle end18of the barrel B. The receiver assembly12is in fluid communication with a pump20via an injection tube22, and the cap structure is also in fluid communication with the pump20via return tube24. The pump20may be any suitable type of pump for cycling an ultrasonic cleaning fluid through the injection tube22, receiver assembly12, barrel B, cap structure and return tube24. It will be understood that the pump20may have an integral recirculation tank for supplying ultrasonic cleaning fluid for introduction into the barrel and a filtration system for receiving and cleaning fluid returned to the pump, and that the pump20may be a pulse-type ultrasonic recirculation pump. When the receiver assembly12is inserted into the rifle receiver and the nozzle112is spring-biased against the bore of the barrel B, the pump20selectively injects the ultrasonic cleaning fluid into the bore of the barrel B, preferably in a laminar flow, and also removes the used ultrasonic cleaning fluid from within barrel B through the cap structure (when placed on and around the muzzle end18of the barrel B) via return tube24. Although the firearm F is shown as a rifle inFIG. 1, it should be understood that firearm F, and its associated barrel B, are shown for exemplary purposes only, and that the firearm barrel cleaning system10may be used with any other suitable type of firearm, such as a revolver, by replacing the receiver assembly12with a suitable receiver adapter.

As best seen inFIG. 2, the cap structure16for sealing the muzzle end18of the barrel B includes a housing26having an open end28and an opposed partially closed end30. The open end28of the housing26is adapted for mounting on the muzzle end18of the barrel B. Texturing or internal threading34may be formed on an inner surface of the housing26adjacent the open end28, as shown, for gripping the barrel B. The housing26may be formed from any suitable type of material. For example, housing26may be formed from Delrin®, a thermoplastic manufactured by DuPont Polymers, Inc. of Delaware, or from a natural or synthetic rubber.

A ring portion38of a clamp40may be sized to abut the partially closed end30of the housing26. Although it should be understood that any suitable type of clamp or clamping member may be used, in the example ofFIG. 2, the clamp40includes a plurality of arms42(with three such arms42shown inFIG. 2), each having a fixed end44and a free end46. The arms42may be resilient for tensioning the arms42against the housing26when the housing26is mounted on the barrel B and the clamp40is mounted on the housing26. Further, a flanged outlet tube54may be inserted within the cover26. The flange52of the outlet tube54is configured to mate against an inner surface of the closed end30with the barrel53of the tube54projecting through an aperture36formed in the closed end30of the housing26. The outlet tube54may incorporate a check valve or other one-way valve to prevent outflow when the pump20is shut off.

As shown inFIG. 2, the barrel53of the flanged outlet tube54also extends through an aperture formed in the ring portion38of the clamp40. The barrel53of the outlet tube54may be externally threaded. A hose connector33may have a serrated nipple32(which may be tapered for receiving tubing having different internal diameters) for connection to the return tubing24and may have complementary internal threads31formed on an inner face of the connector33for engaging the external threads of the barrel53of the flanged outlet tube54.

An additional locking ring50may be used for further securing the clamp40and housing26against the barrel B of the firearm F. As shown inFIG. 3, the locking ring50may include a central ring60with at least one handle62extending therefrom. InFIG. 3, two such handles62are shown. Central ring60has a circular opening48formed therethrough which is dimensioned to securely receive the barrel B. An inner surface64of central ring60may include keyways66for receiving keys43formed on the arms42of the clamp40to hold the clamp40in place, as shown inFIG. 4. Prior to positioning of the clamp40and housing26over the muzzle end18of the barrel B, the locking ring50is mounted on the barrel B with the barrel B extending through the opening48, as illustrated inFIG. 2. Then, the arms42of clamp40may be slid through the ring60until the keys43(which may gradually taper outward from the arms42) on the ends46of the arms42frictionally engage the keyways66, locking the cap on the barrel B. As shown inFIG. 2, the free ends46of arms42may arch outwardly, thus allowing the free ends46to be releasably locked to the locking ring50. The clamp arms42are preferably formed from a flat resilient material, such as spring steel, allowing the free ends46to be pinched by the user to releasably insert the arms42through the ring60until the keys43engage the keyways66. Once assembled, as shown inFIG. 4, the return tube24may be releasably connected to the hose connector33, and the clamp40and locking ring50hold the housing26securely, in a fluid-tight manner, against the barrel B. It will be noted inFIG. 4that the housing26and hose connecter33encapsulate the muzzle end18of the barrel B of the firearm F so that the crown of the rifle is also ultrasonically cleaned by the system10.

In the alternative embodiment ofFIG. 5, the cap structure16is replaced by an alternative inner cover70and outer cover78. Similar to housing26, inner cover70has an open end72and an opposed closed end76. The open end72is adapted for mounting on the muzzle end18of the barrel B, and an outlet port74is mounted on the closed end76. Rather than being secured to the barrel B by a clamp, as in the previous embodiment, the inner cover70is held to barrel B by the outer cover78, which fits over and around the inner cover70. Similar to the inner cover70, the outer cover78has an open end80and an opposed closed end82, and an outlet connector84mounted on the closed end82. The outlet port74of the inner cover70aligns with the outlet connector84of the outer cover78for releasable connection with the return tube24. Similar to the housing26, the inner cover70and the outer cover78may each be formed from Delrin®, a thermoplastic manufactured by DuPont Polymers, Inc. of Delaware, or from a natural or synthetic rubber. In addition to resiliently gripping the barrel B, the inner cover70and the outer cover78may be further secured about the barrel B by an additional strap86, which may be wrapped around the outer cover78and be held in place by any suitable type of releasable fastener, such as, hook and loop fastener patches88,90.

As shown inFIG. 6, the receiver assembly12includes a hollow tube100having opposed ends102,104. The hollow tube100may be a spring-loaded telescopic tube, allowing the hollow tube100to be adapted to a variety of barrel sizes. It should be understood that helical spring111is shown inFIG. 6for exemplary and illustrative purposes only. Further, it should be understood that the hollow tube100may be manufactured in a variety of different lengths and configurations to fit receivers of multiple types of firearms. Further, it should be understood that the hollow tube100may also be manufactured with a variety of different diameters, such that the hollow tube100may form a fluid tight seal when inserted into the receiver of a particular type of firearm.

The first end102terminates in a connector106for releasable connection with injection tube22from the ultrasonic pump20. First end102may also include threads108, as shown, for releasable connection with a turn lock or knob110, allowing fine adjustment of tension on the spring. A nozzle112, which may be tapered, is disposed at the second end104for injecting the cleaning fluid delivered by injection tube22from pump20. The second end includes a hollow sleeve104, which urges the nozzle112to enter the opening of the bore defined by the barrel B and acts in a manner similar to a flange disposed around the nozzle to seal the nozzle112in the bore of the rifle. Alternatively, the nozzle112may have an integral annular flange. The opening to the bore may include the firing chamber, so that the firing chamber is also ultrasonically cleaned by the system, the nozzle112being inserted into and sealed against the opening to the firing chamber. Handle114, which is attached to the hollow tube100, is used to compress the spring111, retracting the hollow sleeve104from the nozzle112to fit the receiver assembly12into the bolt channel of the firearm receiver. The normal spring-loading biases the hollow sleeve104and nozzle112outward, pushing the nozzle112into the bore and sealing the sleeve104around the nozzle112, the handle114locking in the firearm receiver's locking mechanism, normally used by the handle of a bolt action in a bolt-action rifle, in order to maintain the nozzle112sealed to the barrel B, the knob110permitting fine adjustment of the tension applied by the spring111to the sleeve104and nozzle112. The nozzle112and the hollow sleeve104providing the seal around the nozzle112may be removably mounted on the receiver assembly12and replaced by nozzle/hollow sleeve assemblies of different sizes to accommodate rifle bores of different diameter or caliber.

Additionally, an ultrasonic transducer101is mounted on hollow rod100. Although the ultrasonic transducer101is shown as an annular transducer surrounding the first end102, it should be understood that the ultrasonic transducer101may be positioned in any suitable location on the hollow tube100. In use, the bolt is removed from the receiver of a bolt-action rifle F. The injection tube22is connected to the connector106of the receiver assembly12, the nozzle112is inserted into the bore of barrel B in the receiver channel, and the handle114is pulled toward the first end102, compressing the spring111to fit the receiver assembly12into the receiver channel, then released so that spring-loading seals the hollow sleeve104and nozzle112against the bore to be cleaned. Fine adjustment knob110may be rotated to adjust spring tension, if needed, and the handle114may be locked against the receiver to maintain the tension. Either cap structure16or the alternative inner and outer covers70,76, as described above, are used to cover second end18of barrel B, and are connected to return tube24. Pump20injects ultrasonic cleaning fluid through injection tube22, hollow tube100and nozzle112to fill the interior of the barrel B. The pump20may be paused and the ultrasonic transducer101may be activated or switched on and off, either manually or under automatic control by a microcontroller or other processor, to induce cavitation for one or more ultrasonic cleaning cycles. The used cleaning fluid is then sucked from the barrel B by pump20through return tube24for filtering and recirculation by the pump. The cap structure16may then be removed from barrel B, and the receiver assembly12may be removed from the receiver and replaced with the bolt.

FIG. 7shows an additional accessory for cleaning the cylinder C of a revolver R. Pump20, injection tube22and return tube24from the previous embodiment may each be used in a similar manner. However, the injection tube22connects to an injection manifold120via a nipple122, which is placed against a first end124of the cylinder C. Return tube24connects to a suction cap128via a connector130. The suction cap128is mounted on the second end126of cylinder C. Locking arms132are pivotally attached to the suction cap128via hinges or pivots134for releasably sealing the suction cap128to the cylinder C, and also for engaging the injection manifold120to releasably seal the injection manifold120to the cylinder C.

Similar to the above, in use, injection tube22is connected to injection manifold120via a nipple122, and return tube24is connected to suction cap128via connector130. The locking arms132are pivoted to lock suction cap128to the second end126of the cylinder C, and to lock the injection manifold120against the first end124of the cylinder C. Pump20injects cleaning fluid through injection tube22and the injection manifold120to clean the interior of the chambers of the cylinder C. The used cleaning fluid is then sucked from the chambers of cylinder C by pump20, through return tube24. Similar to the above, an ultrasonic transducer, similar to transducer101, is also used to provide for ultrasonic cleaning of the chambers of the cylinder C.