Firearm bolt assembly

• US 6,564,491 B2
• Filed: 07/27/2001
• Issued: 05/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Heckler & KOCH GmbH (H&K AG)
• Original Assignee: Heckler & KOCH GmbH (H&K AG)
• Inventors: Murello, Johannes
• Primary Examiner(s): JOHNSON, STEPHEN
• Application Number:
  US09/916,815
• Publication Number:
  US 20020020097A1
• Time in Patent Office: 662 Days
• Field of Search: 42/16, 42/25, 891/71, 891/72, 891/73, 891/74, 891/84, 891/85, 891/870.1, 891/88
• US Class Current: 42/16
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 3/26 semi-automatically or automatically operated, e.g. having a slidable bolt-carrier and a rotatable bolt

Abstract

An elastic sleeve having a longitudinal slit is positioned between a bolt head and bolt carrier. The sleeve is inserted into an annular space in the bolt carrier when the sleeve is radially compressed allowing relative movement between the bolt head and bolt carrier. The sleeve is supported between the bolt head and an end surface of the bolt carrier when the sleeve is expanded preventing relative movement between the bolt head and the bolt carrier. The periphery of the uncompressed elastic sleeve contacts the bolt carrier or bolt head to thereby effectively damp the elastic sleeve.

Claims

1. For use in a firearm having a barrel and a locking element formed at the proximal end of the barrel, a bolt assembly comprising:

a bolt carrier;

a bolt head;

a connecting device operatively coupling the bolt carrier and the bolt head;

an elastic sleeve mounted on the connecting device and having an expanded state and a compressed state, the elastic sleeve contacting the bolt carrier and the bolt head in the expanded state to thereby substantially prevent relative longitudinal movement between the bolt head and the bolt carrier;

whereby compression of the sleeve from the expanded state toward the compressed state permits relative longitudinal movement between the bolt head and the bolt carrier; and

means for damping vibrations of the elastic sleeve.

2. A bolt assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein the bolt carrier and the connecting device define an annular space, and the sleeve is sized to enter the annular space when suitably compressed to permit relative movement between the bolt head and the bolt carrier.

3. A bolt assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein the means for damping comprises a forward portion of the bolt carrier, the forward portion of the bolt carrier and the connecting device define an annular space and the sleeve is sized to contact an inside periphery of the forward portion of the bolt carrier adjacent the annular space when uncompressed.

4. A bolt assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein the sleeve comprises a spring plate.

5. A bolt assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein the sleeve includes a slit to permit compression between the expanded state and the compressed state.

6. A firearm comprising:

a barrel with a locking element at the proximal end of the barrel;

a bolt carrier;

a bolt head;

a connecting device operatively coupling the bolt carrier and the bolt head;

an elastic sleeve mounted on the connecting device and having an expanded state and a compressed state, the elastic sleeve contacting the bolt carrier and the bolt head in the expanded state to thereby substantially prevent relative longitudinal movement between the bolt head and the bolt carrier, whereby compression of the sleeve from the expanded state towards the compressed state permits relative longitudinal movement between the bolt head and the bolt carrier; and

means for damping vibrations of the elastic sleeve.

7. A firearm as defined in claim 6 wherein the means for damping comprises a forward portion of the bolt carrier, the forward portion of the bolt carrier and the connecting device define an annular space and the sleeve is sized to contact an inside periphery of the forward portion of the bolt carrier adjacent the annular space when uncompressed.

8. A firearm as defined in claim 6 wherein the sleeve comprises a spring plate.

9. A firearm as defined in claim 6 wherein the sleeve includes a slit to permit compression between the expanded state and the compressed state.

10. For use in a firearm having a barrel and a locking element formed at the proximal end of the barrel, a bolt assembly comprising:

a bolt carrier;

a bolt head at least partially received by the bolt carrier;

an elastic sleeve mounted on the bolt head and having an expanded state and a compressed state, the elastic sleeve contacting the bolt carrier and the bolt head in the expanded state to thereby substantially prevent relative longitudinal movement between the bolt head and the bolt carrier, whereby compression of the sleeve from the expanded state towards the compressed state permits relative longitudinal movement between the bolt head and the bolt carrier; and

means for damping vibrations of the elastic sleeve.