Combustion chamber for a muzzleloading firearm

Abstract

An improved muzzleloading firearm provided with a combustion chamber of a diameter greater than its bore. The larger diameter of the combustion chamber provides for more efficient burning of the powder. The improved combustion chamber is used in association with an improved breech plug and ignition stem which simultaneously prevents a projectile from entering the combustion chamber, and ignites the powder in the combustion chamber from the muzzle end of the powder charge, producing a more efficient burn.

1 . An improved muzzleloading firearm comprising: 
 (a) a bore having an interior of a first diameter;    (b) a combustion chamber in fluid communication with said bore, wherein said combustion chamber is provided with an interior of a second diameter, wherein said second diameter is greater than said first diameter;    (c) a trigger; and    (d) means coupled to said trigger for providing ignition to said combustion chamber upon actuation of said trigger.    
   
   
       2 . The improved muzzleloading firearm of  claim 1 , further comprising a breech plug operably secured relative to said combustion chamber.  
   
   
       3 . The improved muzzleloading firearm of  claim 2 , further comprising a shaft secured to said breech plug and extending axially into said combustion chamber.  
   
   
       4 . The improved muzzleloading firearm of  claim 3 , wherein said shaft is at least partially hollow.  
   
   
       5 . The improved muzzleloading firearm of  claim 1 , wherein means are provided within said combustion chamber for preventing a projectile from entering said combustion chamber.  
   
   
       6 . The improved muzzleloading firearm of  claim 5 , wherein said preventing means is a shaft extending at least partially along a center axis defined by said combustion chamber.  
   
   
       7 . The improved muzzleloading firearm of  claim 1 , wherein said second diameter is at least one percent greater than said first diameter.  
   
   
       8 . The improved muzzleloading firearm of  claim 1 , wherein said combustion chamber is no more than four inches long.  
   
   
       9 . The improved muzzleloading firearm of  claim 1 , wherein said second diameter tapers to said first diameter within ______ mm.  
   
   
       10 . The improved muzzleloading firearm of  claim 1 , wherein said second diameter tapers to said first diameter at an angle greater than ______ degrees.  
   
   
       11 . The improved muzzleloading firearm of  claim 1 , wherein at least seven inches of said bore is provided with an interior of said first diameter.  
   
   
       12 . The improved muzzleloading firearm of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of said bore is rifled.  
   
   
       13 . The improved muzzleloading firearm of  claim 12 , wherein at least a portion of said combustion chamber is not rifled.  
   
   
       14 . The improved muzzleloading firearm of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of said combustion chamber is not rifled.  
   
   
       15 . An improved muzzleloading firearm comprising: 
 (a) a bore having an interior of a first diameter for at least five inches;    (b) a combustion chamber in fluid communication with said bore, said combustion chamber being improved with an interior of a second diameter for no more than four inches;    (c) a breech face, wherein said combustion chamber is located between said breech face and said bore;    (d) a trigger;    (e) means coupled to said trigger for providing ignition to said combustion chamber upon actuation of said trigger; and    (f) means provided within said combustion chamber for preventing a projectile from exiting said bore into said combustion chamber.    
   
   
       16 . The improved muzzleloading firearm of  claim 15 , wherein said breech face is provided on a breech plug.  
   
   
       17 . The improved muzzleloading firearm of  claim 16 , wherein said preventing means is a shaft secured to said breech plug.  
   
   
       18 . The improved muzzleloading firearm of  claim 15 , wherein said second diameter is at least one percent greater than said first diameter.  
   
   
       19 . An improved muzzleloading firearm comprising: 
 (a) a bore having an interior of a first diameter;    (b) a combustion chamber in fluid communication with said bore, wherein said combustion chamber is provided with an interior of a second diameter, wherein said second diameter is greater than said first diameter;    (c) a trigger;    (d) a shaft extending at least partially into said combustion chamber; and    (e) means coupled to said trigger for providing ignition through said shaft and into said combustion chamber.    
   
   
       20 . The improved muzzleloading firearm of  claim 19 , further comprising: 
 (a) a propellant provided within said combustion chamber; and    (b) a projectile in contact with said shaft.