Adjustable Gas Block

• US 20130098235A1
• Filed: 06/10/2012
• Published: 04/25/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ralph J. Reinken
• Original Assignee: Ralph J. Reinken
• Inventors: Reinken, Ralph J.
• Application Number:
  US13/492,899
• Publication Number:
  US 20130098235A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 89/193
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 5/28 Adjustable systems

Abstract

An adjustable gas block designed to interface with the gas-operating system of an auto-loading firearm. This design provides continuously adjustable gas flow, from fully closed to fully open, in small, discrete, uniform, and fully-repeatable increments.

The design works by means of a click adjustment valve screw which has a number of grooves that are engaged by a spring-loaded detent. As the screw is turned in or out, either by a tool or by an integrated finger-adjustable knob or handle, the clicks of the detent provide both audible and tactile feedback to the user. This allows a user to optimize the operation of a firearm by responding to variations in ammunition loading, bullet weight, atmospheric temperature, cartridge caliber, and for the installation/removal of a silencer, each of which changes the volume and pressure characteristics of the gas-operating system.

Claims

1. An improved adjustable gas block for a gas-operated auto-loading firearm, the firearm having a receiver with a forward end, a barrel with a gas port, and a gas tube with a gas inlet port, the barrel and gas tube joined to the receiver forward end, and the improved adjustable gas block comprising:

a) a gas block housing manufactured of a suitable material with an apparatus to secure the gas block to the barrel, the gas block housing having a longitudinal bore extending through the housing to receive the firearm barrel, and having a second bore parallel to the first bore and extending a predetermined distance and adapted to receive the firearm'"'"'s gas tube,

b) the gas block housing also including a gas transfer port, further defined as aligned with both the barrel gas port and the gas tube inlet port, which when unobstructed permits the flow of propellant gas from the barrel gas port through the gas transfer port into the gas tube inlet port and thence to the firearm receiver, so as to operate the firearm'"'"'s auto-loading mechanism,

c) the gas transfer port being transversely intersected by a click adjustment valve screw with a distance of travel sufficient to render the gas transfer port either entirely open to the unhindered passage of propellant gas or entirely closed so as to completely prevent the flow of gas,

d) the click adjustment valve screw further, having an area larger in diameter than the threaded body, and having evenly spaced grooves manufactured in said area parallel with the axis of the screw shank, said grooves being engaged by a spring-driven detent mechanism, being able thereby to be adjusted, either by use of a tool or a finger-manipulable knob, so as to be in a number of discrete positions between fully open and fully closed, the detent mechanism holding the click adjustment valve screw in a precise, repeatable setting.

2. The adjustable gas block of claim 1 embodied in a front sight.

3. The adjustable gas block of claim 1 embodied in a gas block with an integral accessory rail.

4. The adjustable gas block of claim 1 further comprising a click adjustment valve screw with a finger-manipulable knob or handle.

5. The adjustable gas block of claim 1 further comprising a click adjustment valve screw with a finger-manipulable knob or handle which also has a slot fitted for a coin or screwdriver.

6. The adjustable gas block of claim 1 wherein the click adjustment valve screw has a shaped end.

7. The adjustable gas block of claim 1 wherein the click adjustment valve screw has a squared end.

8. The adjustable gas block of claim 1 wherein the detent element is spherical in shape.

9. The adjustable gas block of claim 1 wherein the detent element is a pin.

10. The adjustable gas block of claim 1 wherein a mechanism is provided to prevent the click adjustment valve screw from being inadvertently removed during use, and said mechanism also acts as a positive stop for the click adjustment valve screw when it is in the fully open position.

11. An improved adjustable gas block for a gas-operated auto-loading firearm, the firearm having a barrel with a gas port, a receiver with a forward end, and a gas cylinder with a gas inlet port, the barrel and gas cylinder joined to the receiver forward end, the gas cylinder also containing a gas piston, and the improved adjustable gas block comprising:

a) a gas block housing manufactured of a suitable material with an apparatus to secure the gas block to the barrel, the gas block housing having a longitudinal bore extending through the housing to receive the firearm barrel, and having a second bore parallel to the first bore and extending a predetermined distance and adapted to receive the firearm'"'"'s gas cylinder,

b) the gas block housing also including a gas transfer port, further defined as aligned with both the barrel gas port and the gas cylinder inlet, which when unobstructed permits the flow of propellant gas from the barrel gas port through the gas transfer port into the gas cylinder, thus initiating the motion of the gas piston which, in turn, operates the auto-loading mechanism of the firearm,

c) the gas transfer port being transversely intersected by a click adjustment valve screw with a distance of travel sufficient to render the gas transfer port either entirely open to the unhindered passage of propellant gas or entirely closed so as to completely prevent the flow of gas,

d) the click adjustment valve screw further, having an area larger in diameter than the threaded body, and having evenly spaced grooves manufactured in said area parallel with the axis of the screw shank, said grooves being engaged by a spring-driven detent mechanism, being able thereby to be adjusted, either by use of a tool or a finger-manipulable knob, so as to be in a number of discrete positions between fully open and fully closed, the detent mechanism holding the click adjustment valve screw in a precise, repeatable setting.

12. The adjustable gas block of claim 11 embodied in a front sight.

13. The adjustable gas block of claim 11 embodied in a gas block with an integral accessory rail.

14. The adjustable gas block of claim 11 further comprising a click adjustment valve screw with a finger-manipulable knob or handle.

15. The adjustable gas block of claim 11 further comprising a click adjustment valve screw with a finger-manipulable knob or handle which also has a slot fitted for a coin or screwdriver.

16. The adjustable gas block of claim 11 wherein the click adjustment valve screw has a shaped end.

17. The adjustable gas block of claim 11 wherein the click adjustment valve screw has a squared end.

18. The adjustable gas block of claim 11 wherein the detent element is spherical in shape.

19. The adjustable gas block of claim 11 wherein the detent element is a pin.

20. The adjustable gas block of claim 11 wherein a mechanism is provided to prevent the click adjustment valve screw from being inadvertently removed during use, and said mechanism also acts as a positive stop for the click adjustment valve screw when it is in the fully open position.