Sequential discharge electronic ignition system for blackpowder firearms

Abstract

An electronic ignition system for use with a personal firearm utilizing black powder or black powder substitutes, such as a shotgun, rifle, or pistol, is disclosed. The electronic ignition system generates an electric arc in the barrel of the firearm, which ignites the propellant charge in the firearm, discharging it when a firing switch is closed. A sequential discharge of lower and higher capacitance capacitors increases reliability of discharge of the firearm. A multi-switch system may include an arming switch to charge the ignition system, a safety switch to selectively enable and disable firing, and/or a firing switch for triggering discharge of the firearm, for increased safety in use.

1 . An electronic ignition system for a firearm, said ignition system comprising at least one electrode for igniting a propellant within the firearm, a first capacitor and a second capacitor, and a firing switch for triggering discharge of the first and second capacitors, wherein the first and second capacitors discharge sequentially and discharge of the first capacitor provokes discharge of said second capacitor to deliver ignition energy to the at least one electrode.  
   
   
       2 . The electronic ignition system of  claim 1 , wherein the first capacitor has a lower capacitance than the second capacitor.  
   
   
       3 . The electronic ignition system of  claim 2 , further comprising a transformer, and wherein the first capacitor discharges on the transformer to generate arcing at the at least one electrode to provoke discharge of the second capacitor.  
   
   
       4 . The electronic ignition system of  claim 1 , wherein the firing switch is linked to the trigger of the firearm.  
   
   
       5 . The electronic ignition system of  claim 1 , wherein the firing switch has an adjustable release force.  
   
   
       6 . The electronic ignition system of  claim 1 , further comprising an indicator light that indicates whether the capacitors are fully charged.  
   
   
       7 . The electronic ignition system of  claim 1 , further comprising a battery for charging the capacitors.  
   
   
       8 . The electronic ignition system of  claim 7 , further comprising an arming switch switchable between a first state for permitting charging of the capacitors and a second state for preventing charging of the capacitors.  
   
   
       9 . The electronic ignition system of  claim 1 , further comprising a safety switch, and wherein both the safety switch and the firing switch must be actuated to fire the firearm.  
   
   
       10 . The electronic ignition system of  claim 1 , wherein the firing switch comprises a plurality of redundant switches.  
   
   
       11 . The electronic ignition system of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of the plurality of redundant switches is a mechanically actuated switch, and at least one of the plurality of redundant switches is an electronically actuated switch.  
   
   
       12 . The electronic ignition of  claim 11 , wherein the electronically actuated switch has a slight delay with respect mechanically actuated switch.  
   
   
       13 . The electronic ignition system of  claim 1 , in combination with a muzzleloading firearm.  
   
   
       14 . The electronic ignition system of  claim 1 , housed within a retrofit component for use in combination with a muzzleloading firearm.  
   
   
       15 . The electronic ignition system of  claim 14 , wherein the retrofit component takes the place of the breechplug of the muzzleloading firearm.  
   
   
       16 . In a muzzleloading firearm comprising a trigger and a barrel having a closed breech end and an open muzzle end for receiving a propellant and a projectile, the improvement comprising an electronic ignition system, said electronic ignition system comprising at least one electrode at the breech end of the firearm's barrel, a high-capacitance capacitor in electrically-conductive contact with the at least one electrode, a low-capacitance capacitor for initiating discharge of the high-capacitance capacitor, and a firing switch operated by actuation of the firearm's trigger to discharge low-capacitance capacitor.  
   
   
       17 . The improvement to a muzzleloading firearm as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein said electronic ignition system further comprises a transformer, and wherein the low-capacitance capacitor discharges on the transformer to generate arcing at the at least one electrode and provoke discharge of the high-capacitance capacitor.  
   
   
       18 . A muzzleloading firearm comprising: 
 a stock;    a barrel mounted to said stock, and having a bore extending between an open muzzle end and a closed breech end;    a trigger; and    an electronic ignition system having at least one electrode within the bore at the breech end, a higher capacitance capacitor and a lower capacitance capacitor each electrically coupled to the at least one electrode, and a firing switch actuated by the trigger to initiate discharge of the capacitors.    
   
   
       19 . The muzzleloading firearm of  claim 18 , wherein discharge of the lower capacitance capacitor provokes discharge of the higher capacitance capacitor.  
   
   
       20 . The muzzleloading firearm of  claim 19 , wherein the lower capacitance capacitor discharges onto a transformer to generate arcing at the at least one electrode, thereupon provoking discharge of the higher capacitance capacitor to generate increased arcing at the at least one electrode.  
   
   
       21 . The muzzleloading firearm of  claim 18 , wherein the stock houses a battery to charge the capacitors.  
   
   
       22 . A muzzleloading firearm comprising a barrel having a bore for receiving a propellant, at least one electrode for igniting the propellant within said bore, an energy source coupled to said electrode, and a switching system comprising a plurality of switches operable to deliver ignition energy from said energy source to said electrode.  
   
   
       23 . The muzzleloading firearm of  claim 22 , wherein the plurality of switches of the switching system comprise a firing switch and a safety switch.  
   
   
       24 . The muzzleloading firearm of  claim 22 , wherein the plurality of switches of the switching system comprise a firing switch and an arming switch.  
   
   
       25 . The muzzleloading firearm of  claim 24 , wherein the plurality of switches of the switching system comprise a redundant array of switches.