Weapon with thermal management components

Abstract

A weapon includes a cover system that extends a length. The cover system includes an opening that extends through the length of the cover system. The weapon includes a barrel that extends through the opening of the cover system. The cover system includes a composite material that is configured to provide thermal insulation relative to heat emitted from the barrel.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A weapon comprising:
 a cover system extending a length, the cover system comprising an opening that extends through the length of the cover system; and   a barrel extending through the opening of the cover system, wherein the cover system comprises a composite material that is configured to provide thermal insulation relative to heat emitted from the barrel.   
     
     
         2 . The weapon of  claim 1 , wherein the cover system comprises a base and at least one rail extending from the base, the base comprising the composite material such that the base is configured to thermally insulate the at least one rail from heat emitted from the barrel. 
     
     
         3 . The weapon of  claim 1 , wherein the cover system comprises a base and at least one rail extending from the base, the base comprising the composite material, the at least one rail comprising a metal. 
     
     
         4 . The weapon of  claim 1 , wherein the cover system comprises a base and at least one rail extending from the base, the base comprising the composite material, the at least one rail comprising the composite material. 
     
     
         5 . The weapon of  claim 1 , wherein the composite material comprises a reinforcement material and a matrix material, the reinforcement material comprising at least one of glass fibers, metal fibers, a metal powder, carbon fibers, aramid fibers, para-aramid fibers, meta-aramid fibers, or a ceramic. 
     
     
         6 . The weapon of  claim 1 , wherein the composite material comprises a reinforcement material and a matrix material, the matrix material comprising at least one of polyester, vinyl ester, epoxy, phenolic, polyimide, polyamide, polypropylene, polyether ether ketone (PEEK), a shape memory polymer, or a ceramic. 
     
     
         7 . The weapon of  claim 1 , wherein the composite material comprises at least one of a fiber-reinforced composite material, a fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP), a thermoplastic composite, a short fiber thermoplastic, a long fiber thermoplastic, a continuous fiber thermoplastic, a thermoset composite, a shape memory polymer composite, a short fiber reinforcement material, a long fiber reinforcement material, a continuous fiber reinforcement material, a metal matrix composite (MMC), a ceramic matrix composite, cermet, an organic matrix/ceramic aggregate composite, a wood plastic composite, or an engineered wood. 
     
     
         8 . The weapon of  claim 1 , further comprising a thermal insulation member extending within the opening of the cover system between the cover system and the barrel along at least a portion of the length of the cover system. 
     
     
         9 . A weapon comprising:
 a cover system extending a length to an end of the cover system;   a barrel comprising an exposed segment that extends outwardly from the end of the cover system and is exposed to ambient air; and   a heat sink mounted to the exposed segment of the barrel, the heat sink being configured to dissipate heat from the barrel to the ambient air; and   a heat pipe being mounted to the barrel such that the heat pipe thermally communicates with the heat sink, the heat pipe being configured to direct heat to the heat sink from a location along the barrel that is spaced apart from the heat sink.   
     
     
         10 . The weapon of  claim 9 , wherein the heat pipe comprises at least one of copper, a fluid filled heat pipe, or a vacuum heat pipe. 
     
     
         11 . The weapon of  claim 9 , wherein the heat sink comprises at least one fin that is configured to dissipate heat to the ambient air. 
     
     
         12 . The weapon of  claim 9 , wherein the exposed segment of the barrel has an exterior circumference, the heat sink comprising a collar that extends around at least a portion of the exterior circumference of the exposed segment of the barrel. 
     
     
         13 . The weapon of  claim 9 , wherein the heat sink comprises a cylindrical body having a central opening extending therethrough, the exposed segment of the barrel extending through the central opening of the cylindrical body of the heat sink. 
     
     
         14 . The weapon of  claim 9 , wherein the barrel includes a covered segment that is at least partially surrounded by the cover system, the heat pipe being configured to direct heat from the covered segment of the barrel to the heat sink. 
     
     
         15 . The weapon of  claim 9 , wherein the barrel includes a covered segment that is at least partially surrounded by the cover system, the heat pipe extending along at least a portion of a length of the covered segment of the barrel. 
     
     
         16 . The weapon of  claim 9 , wherein the heat pipe is oriented such that heat pipe angles one of downwardly or upwardly toward the heat sink when the weapon is held approximately level. 
     
     
         17 . A cover system for a weapon that includes a barrel, the cover system comprising:
 a base extending a length, the base comprising an opening that extends through the length of the base, the base being configured to be mounted to the weapon such that the barrel extends through the opening of the base;   at least one rail extending from the base, wherein at least one of the base or the at least one rail comprises a composite material that is configured to provide thermal insulation relative to heat emitted from the barrel.   
     
     
         18 . The cover system of  claim 17 , wherein the base comprises the composite material, the at least one rail comprising a metal. 
     
     
         19 . The cover system of  claim 17 , wherein the composite material comprises a reinforcement material and a matrix material, the reinforcement material comprising at least one of glass fibers, metal fibers, a metal powder, carbon fibers, aramid fibers, para-aramid fibers, meta-aramid fibers, or a ceramic, the matrix material comprising at least one of polyester, vinyl ester, epoxy, phenolic, polyimide, polyamide, polypropylene, polyether ether ketone (PEEK), a shape memory polymer, or a ceramic. 
     
     
         20 . The cover system of  claim 17 , wherein the composite material comprises at least one of a fiber-reinforced composite material, a fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP), a thermoplastic composite, a short fiber thermoplastic, a long fiber thermoplastic, a continuous fiber thermoplastic, a thermoset composite, a shape memory polymer composite, a short fiber reinforcement material, a long fiber reinforcement material, a continuous fiber reinforcement material, a metal matrix composite (MMC), a ceramic matrix composite, cermet, an organic matrix/ceramic aggregate composite, a wood plastic composite, or an engineered wood.