Modular barrel assembly

Abstract

A modular barrel assembly for firearms that includes a breech section formed from a high-strength material and a barrel section. the barrel section generally is formed separately from the breech section and can be formed from a different, lighter-weight material. Once formed, the barrel and breech sections are attached together to form the complete barrel assembly.

1 . A barrel assembly for a firearm, comprising: 
 a breech section formed from a high strength material; and    a barrel section formed separately from said breech section and adapted to engage and is attached to said breech section to form the barrel assembly.    
   
   
       2 . The barrel assembly of  claim 1  and wherein said barrel section is formed from a different material than said breech section.  
   
   
       3 . The barrel assembly of  claim 1  and wherein said barrel section can be varied in length and is interchangeable with barrel sections of other, varying lengths.  
   
   
       4 . The barrel assembly of  claim 1  and wherein said barrel section comprises a barrel connector and a bore tube.  
   
   
       5 . The barrel assembly of  claim 1  and wherein said breech section and said barrel section are metallurgically bonded by welding, brazing, or soldering.  
   
   
       6 . The barrel assembly of  claim 1  and wherein said breech section and said barrel section are mechanically attached by a threaded connection, press-fitting, banding, or fasterners.  
   
   
       7 . The barrel assembly of  claim 1  and wherein said breech section and said barrel section are attached with an adhesive material.  
   
   
       8 . The barrel assembly of  claim 1  and wherein the barrel section is formed from a material selected from the group consisting essentially of steel, aluminum, lightweight metal alloys, carbon fibers, glass fibers, boron fibers, graphite fibers, nickel coated carbon fibers, silicon carbon fibers, and ceramic materials.  
   
   
       9 . A firearm, comprising: 
 a receiver;    a fire control; and    a barrel assembly comprising: 
 a breech section formed from a first, high strength material and adapted to mount to the receiver; and  
 a barrel section adapted to engage and connect to the breech section down bore from the receiver, the barrel section being formed from a second material of a lighter weight than the first material, and formed separately from the breech section.  
   
   
   
       10 . The firearm of  claim 9  and wherein the barrel section is formed from a material selected from the group consisting essentially of steel, aluminum, lightweight metal alloys, carbon fibers, glass fibers, boron fibers, graphite fibers, nickel coated carbon fibers, silicon carbon fibers, and ceramic materials.  
   
   
       11 . The firearm of  claim 9  and wherein said barrel section comprises a barrel connector, and a bore tube.  
   
   
       12 . The firearm of  claim 9  and wherein said barrel section can be varied in length and is interchangeable with barrel sections of other, varying lengths.  
   
   
       13 . The firearm of  claim 9  and wherein said breech section and said barrel section are metallurgically attached by welding, brazing, fusing, or soldering.  
   
   
       14 . The firearm of  claim 9  and wherein said breech section and said barrel section are mechanically attached by a threaded connection, press-fitting, banding, or fasteners.  
   
   
       15 . The firearm of  claim 9  and wherein said breech section and said barrel section are attached with an adhesive material.  
   
   
       16 . A method of forming a modular barrel assembly for a firearm, comprising: 
 forming a breech section from a high strength durable material;    forming a barrel section from a lighter-weight material than the high strength material of the barrel section, the barrel section being formed separately from the breech section; and    connecting the breech section to the barrel section to form a completed barrel assembly.    
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16  and wherein connecting the breech section to the barrel section comprises welding, brazing, fusing or soldering the barrel and breech sections.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16  and wherein connecting the breech section to the barrel section comprises adhesively attaching the barrel section to the breech section.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 16  and wherein connecting the breech section to the barrel section comprises mechanically attaching the barrel section to the breech section.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 16  and wherein forming the barrel section comprises roll wrapping a composite material about a mandrel and removing the mandrel to form a composite material bore tube.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20  and further comprising applying a clear tape about the composite material bore tube and curing the composite material bore tube.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 20  and further comprising attaching a barrel connector to the bore tube.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 16  and wherein forming the barrel section comprises forming a composite material bore tube by filament winding a fibrous material, and attaching a barrel connector to the bore tube.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 16  and wherein forming the breech section comprises forging or machining a tubular member from a high strength metal material.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 16  and wherein forming the barrel section comprises forming a composite material bore tube by pultrusion of a composite material, and attaching a barrel connector to the bore tube.