Patent Publication Number: US-9410756-B2

Title: Gas flow volume control apparatus

Description:
The current application claims a priority to the U.S. Provisional Patent application No. 61/950,295 filed on Mar. 10, 2014. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to attachments for firearms which are meant to alter or redirect the gas flow produced when the firearm is discharged. More specifically, the present invention is a gas flow volume control device which is intended to be attached to a firearm and to allow for variable harvesting of the excess gasses produced by its discharge. Harvested gas flow is redirected and can be utilized to chamber a new round and rearm the firing mechanism, thus readying the firearm to discharge again. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Firearms are common in many parts of the world, and have been in use for centuries. Firearms are useful in both civilian and military applications, as they excel at hitting targets at long range, often with lethal results. In the case of most firearms, it is this lethality that makes them so useful. In civilian applications firearms are exceedingly effective for hunting game. Hunting is still a major source of protein for many cultures around the world, and firearms are very useful for such purposes. In military applications, firearms allow for the neutralization of hostile targets at long range. These uses have ensures that firearms remain an extremely common tool which can be found throughout human society in both civilian and military applications. 
     Although the long exposure and large adoption of firearms has resulted in many related technologies being developed, there still remain a large number of improvements that can be made to certain areas of firearm technology. On such area is the concept of gas-operated reloading. Gas-operated reloading allows for the creation of self-loading firearms which use energy created by firing a bullet chamber a new round and therefore ready the firearm to discharge again. 
     There are many designs for gas-operated reloading systems, and they all have varying degrees of complexity and functionality added to the firearm. Some gas-operating systems are fixed, in that the amount of gas that is redirected back into the gun cannot be modified; such systems are often designed into the firearm and cannot be easily removed or modified without compromising the functionality of the firearm. Gas-operated reloading systems can create difficulties when certain accessories are added to a firearm, especially accessories that alter the firing characteristics of the firearm. For example, if a suppressor is attached to a rifle, the ideal amount of redirected gas is altered as compared to the same firearm without a suppressor. Some systems allow for a level of control of the impedance of gas flow, but suffer from undesired positional adjustments in use and difficult operation of the adjustment mechanisms. 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a user adjustable gas-flow volume control for a gas-operated reloading system. It is a further object of the present invention to provide stable and discrete levels of gas flow impedance by providing varying levels of discrete variation. It is a further object still of the present invention to be easily operated in confined spaces with minimal tool usage. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the present invention illustrating the rear surface of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the present invention illustrating the front surface of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a rear view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the adjustable gas block of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a side view of the adjustable gas block of the present invention illustrating the gas-tube channel, the adjustment channel, and the gas flow channel. 
         FIG. 8  is a top view of the adjustable gas block of the present invention illustrating the gas-tube channel, the adjustment channel, the gas flow channel, fastener slot, and the detent bore. 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view the adjustment screw. 
         FIG. 10  is a side view of the adjustment screw. 
     
    
    
     DETAIL DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INVENTION 
     All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. 
     In the field of firearms, it is common for the gas generated from firing a bullet to be rerouted through a gas block and a gas tube, where the rerouted gas is recycled within a gas-operated reloading mechanism. Once the gas is rerouted through the gas block and gas tube, the rerouted gas is able to load the chamber with another round so that the firearm is prepared to fire once again. The present invention is a gas flow volume control apparatus as the present invention is able to control amount of rerouted gas that is recycled through a gas-operated reloading mechanism. In reference to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , the present invention comprises an adjustable gas block  1  and a securing member  22  as the adjustable gas block  1  is adjacently connected atop the securing member  22 . The present invention can be retrofitted or pre-manufactured with different firearms that utilize the gas-operated reloading mechanism. 
     The adjustable gas block  1  is designed to receive the barrel of the firearm while the securing member  22  is designed to secure the adjustable gas block  1  onto the firearm. The securing member  22  is a generally cylindrical in shape and comprises a connecter base  23 , a first lateral wall  26 , and a second lateral wall  27 . In reference to  FIG. 3 , the connecter base  23  is diametrically opposed of the adjustable gas block  1  while the first lateral wall  26  and the second lateral wall  27  are connected in between the connecter base  23  and the adjustable gas block  1  opposite of each other. The connecter base  23  secures the present invention onto the firearm while the first lateral wall  26  and the second lateral wall  27  function as the supporting members. More specifically, the connecter base  23  comprises at least one mounting hole  24  and at least one fastener screw  25  as the at least one mounting hole  24  opens into the present invention as observed in  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6 , thereby allowing the at least one fastener screw  25  to be engaged within the at least one mounting hole  24 . As a result, the present invention can be fixed at some point along the barrel of the firearm. The at least one mounting hole  24  is preferably oriented perpendicular to a central axis of the present invention so that the at least one fastener screw  25  is able to securely fix the adjustable gas block  1  with the barrel of the firearm. Additionally, the first lateral wall  26  and the second lateral wall  27  each comprise a cutout that is perimetrically located within the first lateral wall  26  and the second lateral wall  27 , as can be observed in  FIG. 1 . The cutout is intended to reduce the overall weight of the present invention, thereby minimizing the amount of weight added to a firearm when the present invention is installed. In an alternative embodiment, the securing member  22  comprises only the first lateral wall  26  and the second lateral wall  27 , where the first lateral wall  26  and the second lateral wall  27  are secured together as a clamping mechanism. More specifically, the adjustable gas block  1  is securely mounted to the barrel of the firearm through the first lateral wall  26  and the second lateral wall  27  as the first lateral wall  26  and the second lateral wall  27  are clamped to each other. 
     The adjustable gas block  1  is in fluid communication with the gun barrel so that the generated gas, which is created behind a propelling bullet, can be harvested for the gas-operated reloading mechanism. In reference to  FIG. 1 - FIG. 8 , the adjustable gas block  1  comprises a barrel interface surface  5 , a gas-tube channel  6 , a gas flow channel  8 , an adjustment channel  9 , an adjustment screw  10 , a detent slot  15 , and a leaf spring detent  18 . The barrel interface surface  5  is positioned in between the first lateral wall  26  and the second lateral wall  27 , and extends from a front surface  2  of the adjustable gas block  1  to a rear surface  3  of the adjustable gas block  1 . The barrel interface surface  5  is formed to match with the shape of the firearm barrel so that the adjustable gas block  1  can be hermetically connected with the barrel of the firearm, optimizing the efficiency of the present invention. 
     The gas-tube channel  6  is designed to receive a gas tube of the firearm so that the generated gas can be rerouted back into the firearm to assist with reloading. In reference to  FIG. 7 , the gas-tube channel  6  is traversed into the adjustable gas block  1  from the rear surface  3  so that the gas tube can be directly place in between the present invention and the gas-operated reloading mechanism. The gas-tube channel  6  is offset from the barrel interface surface  5  and positioned parallel with the barrel interface surface  5  so that other related component of the present invention can be positioned in between the gas-tube channel  6  and the barrel interface surface  5 . A tube-connecter recess  7  of the present invention is traversed through an external surface  4  of the adjustable gas block  1  and perpendicularly intersected with the gas-tube channel  6  as shown in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 8 . The tube-connecter recess  7  is intended to provide a means to secure the gas tube of the firearm into the gas-tube channel  6  so that the gas tube and the gas-tube channel  6  do not become separated during operation of the firearm. 
     In reference to  FIG. 7 , the gas flow channel  8  is traversed from the barrel interface surface  5  to the gas-tube channel  6  as the gas flow channel  8  is vertically positioned between the barrel interface surface  5  and the gas-tube channel  6 . The gas flow channel  8  is also in fluid communication with the gas-tube channel  6  so that the generated gas can be rerouted from the barrel of the firearm, through the gas flow channel  8 , and into the gas-tube channel  6 . In order to create the direct flow path for generated gas, the gas flow channel  8  is perpendicularly positioned with the gas-tube channel  6 . 
     In reference to  FIG. 7 , the adjustment channel  9  and the adjustment screw  10  allow the users to control amount of generated gas discharged into the gas-tube channel  6 . The adjustment channel  9  is traversed into the gas flow channel  8  from the front surface  2  through the adjustable gas block  1  so that the adjustment channel  9  is in fluid communication with the gas flow channel  8 . Since the adjustment channel  9  traverses into the gas flow channel  8  from the front surface  2 , a user is able to easily control amount of the generated gas through the adjustment screw  10 . Additionally, the adjustment channel  9  is positioned in between the barrel interface surface  5  and the gas-tube channel  6 , where the adjustment channel  9  is oriented parallel with the barrel interface surface  5  and the gas-tube channel  6 . 
     The assembly and operation of the present invention requires the adjustment screw  10  to be engaged with the adjustment channel  9 . The adjustment screw  10  is driven into and out of the adjustment channel  9  in very small increments in order to control the amount of gas redirected through the adjustable gas block  1 . In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the adjustment screw  10  is engaged within the adjustment channel  9 . This engagement is accomplished by providing external threading on the adjustment screw  10  with matching internal threading on the adjustment channel  9 . This type of engagement allows the adjustment screw  10  to be driven into or out of the adjustment channel  9  so that the adjustment screw  10  can move in between a fully opened configuration, a partially opened configuration, and a closed configuration of the gas flow channel  8 . For example, when the adjustment screw  10  is only positioned within the adjustment channel  9 , the gas flow channel  8  is considered to be in the fully opened configuration as the gas flow channel  8  is completely opened in between the barrel interface surface  5  and the gas-tube channel  6 . As a result, a full complement of generated gas is able to discharge into the gas-tube channel  6  through the gas flow channel  8 . When the adjustment screw  10  partially extends into the gas flow channel  8 , the gas flow channel  8  is considered to be in the partially opened configuration as the gas flow channel  8  is partially opened in between the barrel interface surface  5  and the gas-tube channel  6 . As a result, a limited amount of generated gas is able to discharge into the gas-tube channel  6  through the gas flow channel  8 . When the adjustment screw  10  fully extends into the gas flow channel  8 , the gas flow channel  8  is considered to be in the closed configuration as the gas flow channel  8  is fully closed in between the barrel interface surface  5  and the gas-tube channel  6 . As a result, generated gas is not able to discharge into the gas-tube channel  6  through the gas flow channel  8 . In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the adjustment screw  10  is manipulated by means of a hex key, which engages with a screw head  11  of the adjustment screw  10  to allow a user to easily turn the adjustment screw  10 . The hex key provides an advantage of increased reach, allowing a user to turn the adjustment screw  10  even if it partially obstructed or located in a confined space, where fingers and larger tools may be unable to operate. In other embodiments of the present invention it is possible to use other types of manipulation, such as using a thumb screw as the adjustment screw  10 . 
     In reference to  FIG. 9  and  FIG. 10 , the adjustment screw  10  comprises a threaded screw body  12 , a flat screw body  13 , and at least one axial groove  14  in addition to the screw head  11 . The screw head  11  is concentrically connected with the threaded screw body  12 , and the flat screw body  13  is concentrically connected with the threaded screw body  12  opposite of the screw head  11 . The screw head  11  allows the adjustment screw  10  to be manipulated by external forces while the threaded screw body  12  and the flat screw body  13  are retained within the adjustment channel  9 . The at least one axial groove  14  is radially positioned along the threaded screw body  12 , allowing the adjustment screw  10  to secured in a discrete position in conjunction with the leaf spring detent  18 . 
     In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the at least one axial groove  14  comprises a first groove, a second groove, and a third groove as each groove is positioned along the threaded screw body  12 . In relation to each other, the first groove, the second groove, and the third groove are evenly distributed around the threaded screw body  12 , such that the separation angle between adjacent grooves is 120 degrees. The first groove, the second groove, and the third groove interact with a detent plunger  21  of the leaf spring detent  18 , allowing the adjustment screw  10  to be secured in a discrete position. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the lateral movement that the adjustment screw  10  can be driven into or out of the gas flow channel  8  is 0.125 inches. The adjustment screw  10  itself is 1 inch long and has a 8/32 inch threads per inch. The grooves are each 0.250 inches in length and depth of 0.030 inches. The hex key is a 2 mm ball end. Though these dimensions are provided for the preferred embodiment, the dimensions may be altered to fit different sizes of the adjustable gas block  1  and firearms. 
     The detent slot  15  is traversed into one of the sides of the adjustable gas block  1  as the leaf spring detent  18  connects with the detent slot  15  and engages with the threaded screw body  12  of the adjustment screw  10 . The detent slot  15  is a long rectangular shape of some length that is cut to some depth into the adjustable gas block  1  from the external surface  4  and comprises a fastener slot  16  and a detent bore  17 . In reference to  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 8 , the fastener slot  16  and the detent bore  17  are oppositely positioned of each other across the detent slot  15  as the fastener slot  16  is traversed into the adjustable gas block  1 , and the detent bore  17  is perpendicularly traversed into the adjustment channel  9 . The fastener slot  16  and the detent bore  17  are oriented within the detent slot  15  so that the leaf spring detent  18  is able to secure onto the adjustable gas block  1 . 
     In reference to  FIG. 5 , the leaf spring detent  18  comprises a leaf spring  19  and a set screw  20  in addition to the detent plunger  21 . The leaf spring  19  is positioned within the detent slot  15  so that the set screw  20  is able to traverse through the leaf spring  19  and securely engages with the fastener slot  16 . The assembly and operation of the present invention requires not only the adjustment screw  10  to be engaged with the adjustment channel  9  but also the detent plunger  21  to be engaged with the detent bore  17 . The detent plunger  21  is concentrically positioned within the detent bore  17  and engaged with at least one axial groove  14  of the adjustment screw  10  so that the leaf spring  19  is able retain the detent plunger  21  within the detent bore  17 . Since the detent plunger  21  is inserted into the detent bore  17  and the leaf spring  19  is inserted into the detent slot  15  over detent plunger  21 , the leaf spring  19  has physical contact with the detent plunger  21 , but is not physically connected to the detent plunger  21 . The leaf spring  19  is subsequently held in the detent slot  15  by the set screw  20 . As a result, the set screw  20  is able to hold the leaf spring  19  within the detent slot  15  in place so that the leaf spring  19  is able to flex back and forth in order to accommodate for the movement of the detent plunger  21 , when the adjustment screw  10  is manipulated by external forces. More specifically, the detent plunger  21  is designed to engage with the at least one axial groove  14  of the adjustment screw  10  when the detent plunger  21  is placed into the detent bore  17 . When the adjustment screw  10  is manipulated by external forces, the detent plunger  21  is slightly pushed out of the detent bore  17 , with the leaf spring  19  experiencing bending elastic deformation as a result. This position persists until the detent plunger  21  is once again aligned with the at least one axial groove  14 , at which point the elastic deformation of the leaf spring  19  pushes the detent plunger  21  back into the at least one axial groove  14 . Thus, the detent plunger  21  is engaged with the at least one axial groove  14  and prevents the adjustment screw  10  from rotating slightly due to impacts or other shock forces the firearm may be exposed to during use. In other words, the component configuration of the adjustment channel  9 , the detent slot  15 , the adjustment screw  10 , and the leaf spring detent  18  allow a user to precisely control and adjust the amount of generated gas rerouted through the adjustable gas block  1 . 
     A benefit of the interaction between the detent plunger  21  and the adjustment screw  10  is the production of audible clicks as the detent plunger  21  is pushed into the at least one axial groove  14  in the adjustment screw  10 . These clicks provide an auditory reference for a user, allowing the user to gauge how much of the gas flow channel  8  is being obstructed. This trait of the present invention is useful as users may find themselves needing to adjust the generated gas flow for a variety of reasons. One such example is the addition of a suppressor, which affects the firing characteristics of a weapon, and thus the ideal amount of gas that should be redirected through the adjustable gas block  1 . Regardless of the reason, the present invention provides a means for a user to discretely adjust the impedance of gas through the gas flow channel  8 , ranging from no impedance to full impedance. 
     Another benefit of the interaction between the detent plunger  21  and the adjustment screw  10  is maintaining of a precision setting for the rerouted gas of the adjustable gas block  1 . The detent plunger  21  prevents the adjustment screw  10  from encountering slight variations in position due to firing of the weapon or movement of a user as the detent plunger  21  engages with the at least one axial groove  14  to secure the adjustment screw  10  in a discrete position. Since the preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises the first groove, the second groove, and the third groove as the at least one axial groove  14 , the adjustment screw  10  is completed with 12 discrete positions. More specifically, the adjustment screw  10  is capable of being moved four full turns (each turn being a 360 degree rotation of the screw) resulting in the 12 discrete positions. Although the detent plunger  21  engages with one of the grooves to prevent the adjustment screw  10  from rotating slightly, a user imparted force is sufficient to deform the leaf spring  19  and displace the detent plunger  21  enough to allow the adjustment screw  10  to be switched between discrete positions. 
     Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.