MUZZLE LOADING RIFLE WITH BREECH PLUG HAVING GAS SEAL FACILITY

• US 20110005116A1
• Filed: 09/16/2010
• Published: 01/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smith & Wesson
• Original Assignee: Thompson Center Arms Co Incorporated
• Inventors: LANEY, MARK C., GARLAND, GENE L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,954,269 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 42/51
• CPC Class Codes: F41C 9/08 Muzzle-loading smallarms; Smallarms with flintlock mechanisms; Accessories therefor

Abstract

A muzzle loading firearm has a barrel with a bore on a bore axis, and the barrel has a muzzle end and a breech end. A frame is connected to the barrel, and has a breech face. The frame moves between an open position in which the breech face is away from the breech end of the barrel, and a closed position in which the breech face abuts the breech end of the barrel. A breech plug is removably attached to the barrel. The breech plug including a seal element closely received by the bore. The seal element may be a set of piston rings that are received in a circumferential groove about a forward end of the plug, or may be a cup at the forward end, with a forward rim that flares under pressure to provide a gas seal.

Claims

1. A muzzle loading firearm comprising:

a barrel with a bore defining a bore axis, and having a muzzle end and a breech end;

a frame connected to the barrel, and movable between an open position and a closed position with respect to the barrel;

the breech plug removably attached to the barrel;

the breech plug including a seal element closely received by the bore.

2. The firearm of claim 1 wherein the wherein the breech plug includes a threaded portion for engaging a threaded portion of the bore.

3. The firearm of claim 1 wherein the deal element is a cup at the forward end of the plug.

4. The firearm of claim 2 wherein the cup has an outer surface that closely fits within the bore.

5. The firearm of claim 3 wherein the cup is formed of brass.

6. The firearm of claim 3 wherein the cup has a circular forward rim.

7. The firearm of claim 3 wherein the cup is operable to flare in response to pressurized gas forward of the plug, such that the gas is prevented from passing rearwardly between the cup and the bore.

8. The firearm of claim 6 wherein the cup is formed of a polymer based composite.