Increased accuracy firearm

Abstract

A fire control system for a firearm, such as a rifle, operates a bolt action for increased rate of fire and convenience while retaining the secure locking of the firing chamber by manual bolt actions. After a controller determines that a round has been fired, one or more actuators, such as electrically actuated tooth wheels or gears, unlocks and reciprocates the bolt action to extract the spent shell and to load an unfired cartridge. Thereby, a consistent locking action is achieved avoiding the inconsistent sealing of conventional automatic bolt actions. Consistent accuracy with increased firing rate operation is further achieved with a cooling system activated when the firearm exceeds an optimum temperature operating range.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A firearm comprising: 
 a barrel;    a bolt mechanism reciprocating with respect to the barrel to load a cartridge into the barrel and to extract the cartridge from the barrel, the bolt mechanism including a locking member to rotatingly engage the barrel;    a power supply;    at least one actuator configured to unlock, reciprocate and lock the bolt mechanism when powered by the power supply; and    a controller configured to respond to a firing command by actuating the at least one actuator with the power from the power supply to unlock, reciprocate and lock the bolt mechanism.    
     
     
         2 . The firearm of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one actuator further comprises: 
 a rotation actuator configured to rotate the bolt mechanism; and    a reciprocating actuator configured to reciprocate the bolt mechanism.    
     
     
         3 . The firearm of  claim 2 , wherein the bolt mechanism includes a plurality of radial indentations and a plurality of longitudinal indentations, the rotation actuator comprising a motor driven tooth wheel enmeshed in the radial indentations when the bolt mechanism is closed and the reciprocating actuator comprising a motor driven tooth wheel enmeshed in the longitudinal indentations when the bolt mechanism is unlocked.  
     
     
         4 . The firearm of  claim 1 , wherein the bolt mechanism includes longitudinal helical and transverse indentations and wherein the at least one actuator further comprises: 
 a gear including helical teeth and transverse teeth registered to the longitudinal helical and transverse indentations along the bolt mechanism; and    a motor connected to and operable to turn the gear.    
     
     
         5 . The firearm of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to set a delay time between receiving the firing command and actuating the at least one actuator.  
     
     
         6 . The firearm of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to set an unlocking speed for unlocking the bolt mechanism.  
     
     
         7 . The firearm of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to set an extraction speed for rearward movement of the bolt mechanism.  
     
     
         8 . The firearm of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to set a chambering speed for forward movement of the bolt mechanism.  
     
     
         9 . The firearm of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to set a locking speed for locking the bolt mechanism.  
     
     
         10 . The firearm of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a temperature sensor proximate to the barrel, wherein the controller is further configured to respond to the temperature sensor by adjusting the actuation of the at least one actuator.    
     
     
         11 . A firearm comprising: 
 a barrel;    a bolt mechanism reciprocating with respect to the barrel to load a cartridge into the barrel and to extract the cartridge from the barrel, the bolt mechanism including a locking member to rotatingly engage the barrel;    a convection cooling system configured to direct a cooling flow to the firearm to cool the barrel and bolt mechanism.    
     
     
         12 . The firearm of  claim 11 , wherein the convection cooling system comprises a forced air cooling system.  
     
     
         13 . The firearm of  claim 11 , wherein the convection cooling system comprises a liquid cooling system.  
     
     
         14 . The firearm of  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 a temperature sensor;    a temperature controller responsive to the temperature sensor to activate the convection cooling system.    
     
     
         15 . The firearm of  claim 11 , further comprising a warming element in thermal communication with the barrel.  
     
     
         16 . A method of operating a bolt action firearm that includes a power supply, comprising: 
 in response to firing the bolt action firearm, delaying cycling a bolt action;    rotating the bolt action with power from the power supply to unlock the bolt action;    reciprocating the bolt action with power from the power supply to extract a spent cartridge and to chamber an unfired cartridge; and    rotating the bolt action with power from the power supply to lock the bolt action.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 determining a delay time, an unlocking speed, an extraction speed, a chambering speed and a locking speed.    
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 sensing temperature of the bolt action firearm; and    in response to sensing temperature exceeding an upper threshold, activating a cooling system.    
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising: 
 in response to sensing temperature below a low er threshold, activating a heating element.    
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein actuating the cooling system comprises: 
 forcing cooling air around a portion of the firearm.    
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein actuating the cooling system comprises: 
 circulating cooling liquid within the firearm.