Firearm Having Gas Piston System

• US 20110271827A1
• Filed: 05/06/2011
• Published: 11/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rock River Arms Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Rock River Arms Incorporated
• Inventors: Larson, Lester JR., Larson, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 8,468,929 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 89/193
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 21/34 Flash dampers
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 3/66 Breech housings or frames; Receivers
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 35/06 Adaptation of guns to both right and left hand use
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 5/18 gas-operated
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 5/26 Arrangements or systems for bleeding the gas from the barrel F41A5/20 - F41A5/24 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 5/28 Adjustable systems
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 7/00 Auxiliary mechanisms for bringing the breech-block or bolt or the barrel to the starting position before automatic firing; Drives for externally-powered guns; Remote-controlled gun chargers
• CPC Class Codes: F41C 23/04 Folding or telescopic stocks or stock parts articulated or collapsible guns F41A11/04
• CPC Class Codes: F41C 23/10 Stocks or grips for pistols, e.g. revolvers F41C23/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F41C 23/16 Forestocks; Handgrips; Hand guards pump-action guns F41C7/02
• CPC Class Codes: F41C 27/00 Accessories; Details or attachments not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 11/003 Mountings with a dove tail element, e.g. "Picatinny rail systems"

Abstract

A firearm having a gas piston system includes a bolt carrier, an adjustable gas piston block located forward on the firearm and an over-the-barrel spring and guide rod arrangement, all of which is housed and contained in a top rail that runs the length of the firearm and that maintains the alignment of these firearm components. The firearm also includes an ambidextrous, non-reciprocating charging handle located forward on the firearm and positioned within the top rail for charging the firearm.

Claims

1. A firearm having a gas piston system, the firearm comprising:

a lower receiver,

an upper receiver mounted to the lower receiver,

a barrel mounted to the upper receiver,

a handguard surrounding at least part of the barrel,

an elongated mounting rail positioned above and mounted to the upper receiver,

a gas piston housing mounted to the elongated rail and positioned forward of the upper receiver,

a piston and rod assembly operatively mounted to the gas piston housing and above the barrel, the piston and rod assembly operatively connected to a bolt carrier disposed in the upper receiver,

an ambidextrous charging handle mounted to the elongated rail and above the hand guard forward of the upper receiver and operatively connected to the bolt carrier, and

an elongated tube mounted within the upper receiver and connected to the bolt carrier, the elongated tube configured to receive the rod and a coiled spring, the elongated tube defining a tube end that functions as a contact point for the piston during cycling of the firearm;

wherein the elongated mounting rail extends above and across and mounts and aligns the gas piston housing, upper receiver, charging handle, bolt carrier, and piston and rod assembly.

2. The firearm of claim 1, further comprising an adjustable gas regulator mounted to the gas piston housing.

3. The firearm of claim 1, further comprising a gas plug screw mounted to the gas piston housing.

4. The firearm of claim 1, wherein the handguard is mounted to handguard brackets that are mounted to the elongated rail.

5. The firearm of claim 1, further comprising a guide rod base mounted to an end of the rod.

6. The firearm of claim 1, further comprising a flash hider mounted to an end of the barrel.

7. The firearm of claim 1, further comprising a pistol grip mounted to the lower receiver.

8. The firearm of claim 1, wherein the mounting rail is configured to mount firearm accessories, including lights and optics.

9. The firearm of claim 1, wherein the charging handle includes foldable ears.

10. The firearm of claim 9, wherein the charging handle is non-reciprocating.

11. A firearm having a gas piston system, the firearm comprising:

a lower receiver,

an upper receiver mounted to the lower receiver,

a barrel mounted to the upper receiver,

a handguard surrounding the barrel,

an elongated mounting rail positioned above and slidably mounted to the upper receiver,

a gas piston housing mounted to the elongated rail and positioned forward of the upper receiver, the gas piston housing configured to receive the barrel,

a piston and rod assembly operatively mounted to the gas piston housing and above the barrel, the piston and rod assembly operatively connected to a bolt carrier disposed in the upper receiver,

an ambidextrous non-reciprocating charging handle mounted to the elongated rail above the handguard and toward the barrel end of the firearm and operatively connected to the bolt carrier, and

an elongated tube mounted within the upper receiver and connected to the bolt carrier, the elongated tube configured to receive the rod and a coiled spring, the elongated tube defining a tube end that functions as a contact point for the piston during cycling of the firearm;

wherein the elongated mounting rail extends above and across and mounts and aligns the gas piston housing, upper receiver, handguard, charging handle, bolt carrier, and piston and rod assembly.

12. The firearm of claim 11, further comprising an adjustable gas regulator mounted to the gas piston housing.

13. The firearm of claim 11, further comprising a gas plug screw mounted to the gas piston housing.

14. The firearm of claim 11, wherein the handguard is mounted to handguard brackets that are mounted to the elongated rail.

15. The firearm of claim 11, further comprising a guide rod base mounted to an end of the rod.

16. The firearm of claim 11, further comprising a flash hider mounted to an end of the barrel.

17. The firearm of claim 11, further comprising a pistol grip mounted to the lower receiver.

18. The firearm of claim 11, wherein the mounting rail is configured to mount firearm accessories, including lights and optics.

19. The firearm of claim 11, wherein the charging handle includes foldable ears.